MOSTLY S’WOMEN

As well as wild swimming – interestingly 80% of Angela’s clients are women – Angela runs all sorts of outdoorbased activity courses and one-to-one training with the emphasis being on keeping safe and loving what you do.

It is an amazing way to build confidence – no boot camps or beastings, just pure love of the countryside and how to be kind to it, and yourself, to get the most from it.

Of course, not all outdoor water is safe to swim in. A pool which is popular with locals, particularly in the summer, had a dead horse in it last year, sewerage does flow into the rivers in places and all the recent rain we have had has resulted in chemicals being washed out of the ground into the water courses.

Angela’s second home is the River Wye (and she has a book coming out soon sharing her adventures and advice), but due to the recent heavy rains we swam in a fresh water lake, thanks to Jeff at Broadstone Park.

As well as being fed by several springs, it had the reassuring margins of bulrushes, which also help filter water and lots of watercress, which will only grow in fresh, moving water.

My skin felt amazing afterwards as did the rest of me.

Wild swimming is a naturelover’s dream, and all nature lovers will know that wildlife isn’t just curtailed to daylight.

Angela runs night swims and night kayaking, which will take you into a whole new realm of wildlife wonders – and fear management.

And yes, that’s next on my list and I won’t be waiting until my next birthday either!