Daily Mail - 17.08.2019

Daily Mail, Saturday, August 17, 2019 Page 63

Adventure

Dos and don’ts before

you take a dip...

LONDON

n DO make sure the water is

safe to swim in: reservoirs

will often have underwater

drains or submerged objects,

rivers can have unexpectedly

strong currents and the

calmest-looking sea may be

hiding a dangerous rip tide.

n DO make yourself visible

— wear a colourful cap.

n DON’T jump straight into

the water: it is often much

colder than you expect,

and it is better first to get

used to the temperature.

n DON’T stay in too long.

Our bodies are amazing at

adapting to cold water, but

this happens over time.

You should swim three or

four times a week in winter

to acclimatise. Aim for two

minutes per degree Celsius

and bring plenty of warm

clothing and hot tea.

n DON’T ever swim alone.

ONE of the main draws of

Bingham Riverhouse is its

garden on the banks of the

Thames. I look forward to sitting there with

a book and a glass of something or other.

However, on arrival, we’re told that a

private function is being held and so the

garden is closed. Surely, in a small hotel

such as this (15 rooms), we should have

been informed in advance?

We had been quoted £228 room-only for

a shoebox overlooking the busy Petersham

Road, but managed to get it down to £200,

with breakfast and parking included.

Turns out it’s really a single room, hence

only one set of towels and one bathrobe.

We should have been told this, too.

And, while the public areas and most

of the rooms in the two joined-up, listed

Georgian townhouses (built in 1740) were

revamped in January, ours wasn’t, and it’s

down-at-heel.

A giant spider sits on the window ledge

— sorry, but I have a thing about spiders,

and my wife can’t face this monster, so we

leave it to the man who shows us to the

room. He doesn’t much fancy it, either.

‘I’ll be back,’ he says, before returning

with a flannel to deal with the intruder.

Less excusable is the gap under the door,

about 4 in at its highest; the wonky electric

sockets; brown curtains with an ugly sheen;

battered desk; two brown single-bed

headboards; and rusty old plug in the basin.

Then we hear a noise coming from behind

one of the walls. Two staff members come

up and agree something should be done

— but what? There are no rooms available

and the maintenance man is off-duty.

We go for a walk along the river beside

the famous Petersham Meadows and,

when we return, the noise has abated.

The January refurbishment seemingly

did not extend to the staircase, whose

bannisters are chipped — but the bar and

the drawing room, now the dining room,

have been delightfully brought to life.

The part of the dining room where we

eat is lined with bookshelves filled with

Penguin paperbacks. Elsewhere, there’s

vibrant modern art, comfortable arm-

chairs and battery-operated lanterns.

Dinner is pricey, the wines outrageously

so — as in £20 for a 175ml glass of French

Semillon and £19 for a red from Puglia.

It seems chef Andrew Cole is trying to

emulate his predecessor, Shay Cooper,

who gained a Michelin star here in 2012.

But we’re surprised that, of six mains,

there’s only one meat option, lamb loin,

and that comes with a £6 supplement.

So choose your room with care, ask if any

functions are scheduled, drink by the bottle

— and beware of big, hairy spiders.

Bingham Riverhouse

61-63 Petersham Road,

Richmond TW10 6UT

binghamriverhouse.com

020 8940 0902

Doubles from £124, room only

HH✩✩✩

AN

INSPECTOR

CALLS

He pays his way...

and tells it like it is

Pictures: ALAMY / JIM NICHOLSON / DOM GREVES

huge portions of delicious food

and excellent real ale.

Swim the Thames

The Thames is so clean

and busy with wildlife as it flows

through Bourne end in Berk­

shire. If you fancy an adventure,

you can enter the water at Cock

Marsh and swim downstream

to see Cliveden house — the

setting of the Profumo Affair.

WHERE IS IT? You can park at

Cock Marsh near Cookham,

(SL6 9TJ) and saunter for

around five minutes over the

water meadow to the river.

LOOK OUT FOR: Pleasure boats.

WHERE’S THE PUB? The Bounty

is right beside the water at

Cock Marsh.

Chalk and charm

ChALk streams are special: so

clear and cool. One of the love­

liest is the Little Ouse, near

Santon Downham in Suffolk.

Swim for miles or bumble along

in Thetford Forest.

WHERE IS IT? Drive to St helen’s

picnic site in Santon Downham,

(IP27 0TJ) and enter the water

via the footbridge.

LOOK OUT FOR: everyone else

having the same idea.

WHERE’S THE PUB? The social hub

is the Breckland Club, open four

nights a week.

Take the plunge

JAneT’S FOSS in Yorkshire

is a waterfall plunge pool in a

dramatic amphitheatre famous

in the wild swimming world.

even in winter, you’re likely to

find a few brave souls splash­

ing about in the deep water.

WHERE IS IT? There’s a circular

walk starting from Malham,

(BD23 4DL), which takes you

past Malham Cove’s sublime

cliffs and along a track to reach

the waterfall.

LOOK OUT FOR: Overexcited

swimmers skinny­dipping.

WHERE’S THE PUB? The cosy

Buck Inn in Malham will do

very nicely.

Heavenly Devon

DOwnSTreAM from Staver­

ton weir in Devon, there is a

tree to jump from or you can

swim for a good distance once

you’re in the clear river.

WHERE IS IT? near Dartington.

Park at Staverton Bridge

(TQ9 6Fe) and walk down a

track to the river.

LOOK OUT FOR: Spots highlighted

in Alice Oswald’s Dart — which

charts the voices of people living

and working beside this river.

WHERE’S THE PUB? The white

hart at Dartington has superb

seasonal food.

Natural high

SnOwDOnIA is full of beautiful

stretches of clear, blue water in

lakes, old quarries and waterfall

pools. Climb Snowdon and cool

off in the Afon Cwm Llan water­

falls on the way back down.

WHERE IS IT? reach the pools by

parking near Gwynant chapel

cafe (LL55 4nL) and walking

along the watkin Path.

LOOK OUT FOR: walkers wishing

they’d brought their swimsuits.

WHERE’S THE PUB? The Cwellyn

Arms in rhyd Ddu (LL54 6TL).

Feel the Force

LOw Force is a dramatic

waterfall and deep pool

in County Durham on the

river Tees.

Despite its name, it is only

safe in summer when the waters

aren’t raging. But it’s a fabulous

swim and good for jumping in,

if you’re that sort of swimmer.

WHERE IS IT? Set off on a five­

mile round walk from Bowlees

Visitor Centre (DL12 0Xe).

LOOK OUT FOR: The nationally

important wildlife, including

wading birds, and beautiful

wildflower meadows.

WHERE’S THE PUB? The high

Force hotel is on the walk

and serves food, welcomes dogs

and runs outdoor activities.

A capital idea

IF YOu’re a strong swimmer,

the Thames upstream from

richmond Lock is marvellous

and much cleaner than you

would expect.

Try the bathing steps at

Marble hill house and enjoy

the riverside flowers that often

end up underwater when the

tide is high.

WHERE IS IT? walk through

Marble hill Park (Tw1 2nL) to

the river. There are benches by

the steps into the water.

LOOK OUT FOR: People who think

you fell in. why else would you

be swimming in the Thames?

WHERE’S THE PUB? The white

Cross is so close to the river

that it regularly ends up being

flooded by it during high tide.

Pictures:

ALAMY / JIM NICHOLSON / DOM GREVES

DORSET