OUR TOP PLACES FOR WILD SWIMS
A three-swim walk in the Lake District
Begin at Stonethwaite Farm Campsite in Borrowdale, walk 30 minutes down the beck and you’ll find yourself at Galleny Force Waterfall, where falling water has cut a couple of deep bowls into the limestone. Here, you can plunge right in, scramble in slowly or simply sunbathe on the rocks. Don’t stop for too long, though, because you need to walk for a couple of hours to Ore Gap for your next dunk. You’ll be so warm from the climb, it’ll be a relief to jump into Angle Tarn, from where you can enjoy panoramic views. After marvelling at the scenery, begin your descent over Tongue Head to reach Sprinkling Tarn, the perfect peaceful spot to bob about in the still waters.
A hidden bay in Dorset
If you walk for 30 minutes up Studland beach and around the point to Shell Beach, or through the dunes of Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve, you will find Shell Bay. A little off the beaten track, you’ll rarely have to share it with anyone other than a dog walker or two – good if you want to dodge the crowds on a hot bank holiday.
Splashing around in a meadow in Oxfordshire
If you like lying on grass surrounded by a few heritage cows and ducks, watching the clouds pass by, try Port Meadow, on the River Thames in Oxfordshire. This is a peaceful spot for a dip at dawn or dusk or an all-day wallow with a picnic. A historic patch of common land, the meadow reportedly hasn’t been ploughed for 4,000 years. As a result, its undisturbed ecosystem has led to it becoming an SSSI. To extend your trip, try the hidden island campsite at Pinkhill Lock beside the Farmoor Reservoir nature reserve.
Salty swims and fresh seafood in Kent
For a trip in the South East, a classic option is the seaside town of Whitstable – the beach is sociable, but spacious enough to get a good spot, while the groynes offer shelter from winds and cover when changing clothes. Another safe bet is the seawater lido at Margate. Catch this when the sun is shining – even if the rain is falling, the resulting swim under the rainbow is dreamlike.
A tidal island in Essex
At mysterious Mersea Island, you’re unlikely to encounter crowds as there’s no train station, and only one connecting road along a short dyke. West Mersea Beach can be accessed from a few points along the coast road – all require very little walking, the sand is silky soft and the dunes offer good shelter.
Waterfalls and plunge pools in Inverness
To experience the epitome of a wooded glen, take the five-mile walk from the village of Tomich to Plodda Falls. There’s no signal, but the waterfalls are so thundering, you wouldn’t hear your phone ring anyway. There are multiple swimming spots at the base of the falls, but our favourite is the plunge pool of the third stage, where the water sparkles like soda water from its high-velocity journey.
For information about wild swimming and recommended spots, visit outdoorswimmingsociety.com. To find out about wild swimming groups in your area, go to wildswimming. co.uk/places/local-groups or search on Facebook.