take
your pick
5 wild swimmingspots in the uk
HAMPSTEAD PONDS
The three ponds on
London’s Hampstead Heath
are the ideal place to give
wild swimming a go. The
mixed pond opens from
May until September and
isgreatforfirst-timers.LLYN CWM BYCHAN,
WALES
Llyn Cwm Bychan is the
ultimate Welsh lake. With
shallow water in its eastern
reaches, its banks are
perfect for lying down and
dryingoffonasunnyday.DOSTHILL QUARRY,
STAFFORDSHIRE
This spring–fed lake’s
crystal clear waters are
rich in magnesium, known
for its therapeutic benefi ts.
A handy 400-metre route
around its perimeter makes
foragorgeousswim.HELL BAY, BRYHER,
ISLES OF SCILLY
Twenty-fi ve miles off the
coast of Cornwall, tiny
Bryher is surrounded
by pristine, white sandy
beaches that slip away into
icy water full of swaying
seaweedforests.LOCH TARBERT, JURA,
SCOTLAND
Scotland is blessed with
some truly wild swimming
holes. This loch, which
almost cuts the island of
Jura in two, is remote and
surrounded by steep–
sided hills.JOE MINIHANE ALSO HAS A SWIMMING
PODCAST. IT’S CALLED FLOATING:
SWIMMING STORIES AND YOU CAN LISTEN
TO IT ON AUDIBLE OR WHEREVER YOU GET
YOUR PODCASTS.“I’mat mymostcalmwhenI’m
bythesea.It’slikemeditationor
mindfulnessforme,I don’thaveto
think,I’mtotallyat peace.I guessit’s
theendorphinsas wellas thehead
space.Andjustbeinginnatureis good
forthesoul.It’ssocalming.”SWIMSAFE
Whilewildswimming’sresurgenceis
unquestionablya goodthing,it’sa very
di erentpropositiontoswimmingin
a pool.Conditionscanoftenchange,
withtidesturning,currentsmoving
quicklyandtheweatheroftenrefusing
toplayball.Likealloutdooractivities,
therearedangerstobeawareof.But
thesecanbeovercomebychecking
maps,readinguponwell-known
swimmingspotsand,crucially,
optingagainsta swimif youfeeluncomfortable in any way. In that way,
wild swimming o ers an important
lesson about being less macho and
more respectful of the situation,
whether it’s churning waves or a fast-
owing stream.
e swimming itself feels di erent,
too. With no lanes to follow it can be
hard to swim in a straight line when
doing front crawl, but the ability to
stretch out your arms and legs to their
fullest makes it truly magical. All
abilities can give it a try, although less
con dent swimmers should always go
with someone who knows what they’re
doing. And that’s no problem either;
the social side of wild swimming is a
brilliant boost for mental wellbeing.
e water might be cold, but when
it makes you feel this good, there’s
every reason to take the plunge.JOEMINIHANE
ISTHEAUTHOR
OFFLOATING,A
WILDSWIMMING
TRAVELOGUE
EXPLORING
HOWWATER
CANHELPEASE
ANXIETYAND
Photography DEPRESSION.
Shutterstock
Making waves: Ella Foote's 'Dip
A Day December' project extolled
the virtues of wild swimmingPhoto
Ella Foote