Wild Swimming - News Room

Inspiration, Location, History, Safety, River, Lake, Lido and Sea

Jul 19, 2016

The Rebirth Of Hillingdon Lido

The Londonist reports: Uxbridge Lido — or Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex, as it’s now called — is one of London’s great resurrection stories. Thanks to a campaign to bring the lido back to life, it was reborn again in 2010… The pavilion’s been modernised and extended, but vitally retains its 1930s sass. Sun loungers add a further touch of vintage glamour, meaning you can dip in and out of magazines/the pool over the course of an afternoon. The whole experience feels le

Jun 20, 2016

Passion for Outdoor Swimming Rekindled

The Observer reports: Swimmers across Britain will greet the longest day by plunging into a pool tomorrow. Many will take that summer solstice dip amid the splendour of a restored public lido or municipal baths as the national appetite for preserving historic leisure facilities grows. In Penzance, the Jubilee Pool reopened last month following a £3m repair project after storm damage in 2014. The pool, built in 1935, was first reopened in 1994 after falling into disrepair. The

Jul 25, 2015

Leicesters’ Key Role in Swimming History

The City of Leicester holds a rich treasure trove of history dating back to Roman times. Discover a 2,000 year history that will surprise, sadden and hopefully inspire you. #JennyFletcher #history #swimming #riverswimming #LearningtoSwim #AbbeyPark #wildswimming #SwimmingPoolsandSpas #BedehouseBathingStation #Leicester #JohnJarvis #DanielLambert

Oct 24, 2014

The Evolution of British Swimming

From a modern perspective, swimming was a very British sport. After years or religious and superstitious suppression it was in Britain that swimming reemerged as an acceptable, desirable pastime. With the birth of the industrial revolution social changes forced swimmers away from their birthright, out of rivers and lakes and into man-made enclosures. No Swimming at Sparth Even so swimmers were allowed a great deal of freedom indoors, but even these freedoms have now been erod

May 22, 2014

Praise for – Hung Out to Dry Swimming and British Culture

Malcolm Tozer Reviews: Hung Out to Dry: Swimming and British Culture, in the Spring Edition of Physical Education Matters. It was by chance that your reviewer came across this privately published social history of swimming and the evident enthusiasm of its author – devotee of outdoor bathing and self-taught historian – prompted the request for a copy. Chris Ayriss’s idiosyncratic approach is as refreshing as the waters he loves and the ebb and flow of his story matches that o

May 2, 2014

What Did We Do To Our Diving Boards?

When I was a child growing up in Leicester, scenes like this were commonplace at our beloved St Margret’s Swimming Baths. Here children line up to take a dive in a swimming pool in the southern German town of Denzlingen in the summer of 2012. Attitudes are very different abroad, but here in England we have decided that it’s just too dangerous to have all these swimmers on the one board. Popular though diving may have been in the UK, one at a time and only ONE has killed the j

Mar 21, 2014

Swimming History – Leicester’s Kenwood Lido

Leicester’s Kenwood Lido enjoyed huge popularity, with its extensive grassy sunbathing lawns, high diving boards and attractive semi-circular pool. Its magnetism drew thousands during the summer months, being a day trip destination for many of Leicester’s population. Here John and Sandra Leake enjoy the fountain in a way that would be frowned on by the health and safety culture of our modern world. If Kenwood were still open, the diving boards would have closed and photograph

Mar 6, 2014

Wild Swimming in Austin, Texas

Michael Barnes writes: “Whenever someone is considering a move to Austin, I warn them: ‘You’ll love it, but it’s hotter than Africa.’ Austinites generally find three ways to cool off during the six hottest months: 1) Travel 2) Stay indoors 3) Find water The most popular swimming location is said to be Barton Springs and with the hot summer last year and the chance that global warming may see temperatures rise (either because it’s really happening, or because you hate the ment

Feb 14, 2014

Wild Swimming on Plymouth Hoe

Read the history of swimming on Plymouth Hoe… #health #WaterSports #history #swimming #Water #SwimmingandDiving #Openwaterswimming #wildswimming #Swimmingpool #CultureoftheUnitedKingdom #Recreation #lido #PlymouthHoe #SwimmingPoolsandSpas #OutdoorSwimmingSociety #BritishSwimming #TravelandTourism #England

Feb 7, 2014

Swimming History: Tarlair Open Air Swimming Pool

In its heyday, the Tarlair open air swimming pool complex on the outskirts of Macduff was the last word in outdoor leisure. Tarlair Open Air Pool Built in 1931, the swimming pool was a haven in the summer holidays for locals and tourists alike but the site has lain empty since 1991. In 2007, Tarlair was first outdoor baths in Scotland to be granted Category-A listed status. A report on the pool by Addison Conservation and Design, who are experts in historic conservation, stat

Feb 6, 2014

Wild Swimming in Iceland – Land of the Lido

Swimming in Iceland – the land of the lido My wife Ann has always wanted to see the Northern Lights and especially so after watching the TV series: Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights. When an email arrived advertising a Northern Lights weekend in Iceland, we decided to book it, take a risk and hope to see the Aurora Borealis for ourselves. What we discovered in Iceland took us quite by surprise and as you will discover we were far from disappointed. The Icelandi

Jan 10, 2014

Swimming History Picture of the Week: Gourock Outdoor Swimming Pool

Gourock Outdoor Swimming Pool Enjoy open air swimming in this salt water pool, heated to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and get a feel for the summer on the terraced area or the traditional patio with spectacular views of the Clyde Estuary. Recently refurbished as part of a £1.8m renovation project with diving boards retained! The pool opened in 1909 and the water heated from 1969. #health #history #Britain #SwimmingandDiving #wildswimming #CultureoftheUnitedKingdom #Recreation #lido

Dec 26, 2013

Natural Swimming Pool – La Furnia – Gran Canaria

This large and attractive natural swimming pool is tucked away out of sight and has no facilities other than the pool itself. Well worth traveling to perhaps on a trip to include other nearby pools. Music from Juno. Discover Gran Canaria... #Shopping #CanaryIslands #Naturalpool #Spain #HomeandGarden #Swimmingpool #SwimmingPoolsandSpas #GranCanaria

Nov 14, 2013

Swimming History Picture of the Week: Long Sands, Tynemouth

Oliver Dixon writes: This open air swimming pool at the south end of Long Sands, Tynemouth was opened in 1925. No doubt popular at the time, it now lies abandoned. Are the British public getting soft with their preference for heated pools or Mediterranean warmth? And even those who do take to northern seas are almost invariably clad in wet suits nowadays. More… #Shopping #swimming #HomeandGarden #Swimmingpool #CultureoftheUnitedKingdom #SwimmingPoolsandSpas #Wetsuit #Swimsuit

May 1, 2013

Video of the Month – May 2013 – Wild Swimming – Aberdovey, Wales

Wild swimming is not about freezing cold water; it’s about the joy of swimming in the great outdoors. It’s about breaking free from the indoor swimming pool and returning to swim in the wild. British culture has taken the fun out of swimming; swimmers have been imprisoned at indoor pools for far too long. Wild swimming is all about breaking free from convention, escaping to the outdoors and returning to beautiful surroundings, to water that sparkles with sunlight, and the exh

Feb 21, 2013

Picture of the Week: Wild Swimming in Lahore Canal

Probably the largest natural swimming pool in the world… More… Wild Swimming in Lahore Canal #Lahore #Swimmingpool #SwimmingPoolsandSpas

Jan 8, 2013

Diving into Leicester Lido

Humberstone Lido Opened in Leicester in the mid 1930s at the height of the British sunbathing era. Concerns over water quality sparked a move away from river swimming and the Lido offered clean modern surroundings to an increasingly affluent population. Bathing in the sunshine was seen to have many health benefits and so Lido’s countrywide enjoyed a hey day of popularity. However attitudes towards swimming outdoors changed and the Lido era came to an end in the seventy’s. Lei

Oct 12, 2012

Danger! polluted swimming pools

Back in the seventy’s swimmers were chased out of rivers across the country as water pollution posed an increasing health risk. Children were scared out of their wits by a a sinister public safety film, with swimming pools promoted as the only safe place to swim. Now as bathers refuse to wash properly before entering the water, swimming pools have become polluted. Dr Chalmers (Public Health Wales) said “cryptosporidium (a disease that causes severe diarrhea) could survive ch

Apr 4, 2011

Turn your chlorinated pool over to saltwater!

Swimming pools need clean water, but some pool owners are turning their back on chlorination and are converting to salt water. The water feels smother and your hair and body are not affected by harsh chemicals. #Chlorination #Water #Chlorine #HomeandGarden #Swimmingpool #SwimmingPoolsandSpas