‘Wild swimming made me brave’
Author Kerry Andrew has found solace and power in Mother Nature’s cold, dark waters.
Ifirst tried outdoor swimming in 2012 with my husband, Andy. We began swimming together at Brockwell Lido in south London. It was cold, but connecting with the environment made me feel alive, and I soon became addicted. That summer we went on holiday to Cornwall and Devon, and I tried wild swimming for the first time at Wellsfoot – an island on the River Dart, where the water is slow and safe. The sensation of stepping into the water for the first time felt luxurious and freeing. Compared with the soft embrace of nature, chlorinated water feels horrible and hard.
Now I often swim alone. My first solo swim was in May 2016. I was on a work trip in Glasgow and travelled to remote Rannoch Moor in the Highlands. The water at Dubh Lochan was still, bright and surrounded by mountains. I stripped down to my swimsuit, slipped on my goggles and waded in. In winter, I’ll wear waterproof socks, gloves and a neoprene hat, but I didn’t bother that day.
The perspective you get when immersed in the water and looking up at mountains is awe-inspiring – I even let out a little laugh to myself at the ridiculousness of it all. I was in the water for 10 minutes that day and it was emotional – there’s a sublime quality to swimming somewhere remote.
Sometimes, I find it hard to motivate myself to go in, but the adrenaline rush makes the freezing water worth it. At first, I was fearful of swimming in the wild – I hate fish or weeds brushing against me, but I’ve trained myself not to worry. I’m always careful. Never swim alone until you’re confident, and know where you will enter and exit the water.
One of my favourite places I’ve swum was Port Appin, near Oban. The scenery was glorious, the water calm. I was so inspired by the Scottish wilderness that my debut novel, Swansong*, about a girl who flees London to escape her past, is set there. I also love Hampstead Ladies’ Pond in London – there’s something magical and bohemian about it. Even in winter, I swim at the lido a few times a week and in the wild 20 times a year.
Wild swimming has enriched my life, making me more adventurous. It’s hard to be brave and do the thing you’re afraid of. As I’ve got older, I’ve felt the need to push myself beyond this fear. It keeps my eyes open to the joy in the world.