Wild Swimming News

The Hunts Post reports: Community Association volunteers are uncovering the old bathing steps to the river. They have removed decades of silt and flood debris – 42 cubic metres so far – and with it a rather forgotten part of our river’s history. The steps are sited on the Recreation Ground and were built by the Town Council in the early twentieth century as a public amenity. At that time, almost all towns and villages along the river had designated swimming areas: the

ITV News reports: The weather may be seasonably wild at times, but that doesn’t seem to be deterring the hardy souls embracing wild swimming despite the chill. In fact, the benefits of cold water swims, dips or plunges are being hailed by many as benefiting them both physically and mentally – from boosting circulation and burning calories, to releasing endorphins and helping to reduce stress. One group of swimmers have made braving the elements at Loughmacrory, outside Oma

The Guardian reports: The nights are drawing in; it is chilly and damp. But these are ideal conditions, it seems, for the country’s newly converted army of outdoor swimming fans. In the summer, the pandemic closed indoor swimming pools across the UK – about one in five have yet to reopen – and thousands of swimmers started taking regular dips in open-air pools, lakes and rivers as an alternative. At one point, demand was so high that the Outdoor Swimming Society was for

Powfoot Tidal Pool in Dumfries and Galloway The Scotsman reports: The Covid pandemic has shown the importance of getting out into nature wherever possible - with wild swimming becoming a popular option for those seeking the freedom of Scotland’s chilly lochs and reservoirs. But could the trend put Scotland’s historic sea pools back on our cultural agenda? Tidal pools were once found dotted along Scotland’s shorelines as small pools of sea water, with barriers cleaved from nat

As Covid 19 forced swimming pools to shut their doors this year and sizzling summer temperatures drew record numbers to river swimming across the country; The Guardian reports: The latest set of river health assessments conducted by the Environment Agency and published last week by the government laid bare the perilous state of our water bodies and, as environment minister Rebecca Pow conceded, it made for “uncomfortable reading”. The assessments showed that all England’s

Wild Swimming at Dancing Ledge links you with history and with the elements. It is a good walk from whichever direction you choose to approach, but the final scramble to the pool is not possible for some. Remember that at high tide the ledge is covered by water and so the pool is unusable. Boys from Durnford Boarding School (aged 7-14) were marched each day, whatever the weather, to plunge au naturel into the sea in order to harden them as recruits for the Royal Navy and in p

As the lock-down continues to restrict holiday options, the English, looking to escape the sultry weather are advised to swim either in the sea, river or lake as swimming pools and Lidos remain out of bounds. Thousands of would be wild swimmers have swamped popular inland destinations and beaches. To ease congestion the Outdoor Swimming Society have taken down their map of wild swimming locations. Councils are considering the repercussions of hosting popular swimming spots.

After weeks of swimming restrictions the government have released wild swimmers from captivity. The Telegraph reports: The relaxation of exercise regulations means water sports like rowing, canoeing, sailing, angling and lake or river swimming can resume from May 13. How that works in practice remains to be seen. Seas, rivers and lakes will likely be available instantly. However, public or privately-run open-water facilities are likely to take longer to put measures in place

The Times reports: Water companies are polluting some of Britain’s most picturesque rivers, from the Windrush in the Cotswolds to the Aire in Yorkshire, without facing a penalty for the vast majority of offenses. Of 1,863 unlawful pollution incidents by water companies in rivers in England last year, 1,423 were registered as having no further action taken or no action recorded. There are 36 active investigations, but not one prosecution, for 2018. Water UK, the trade associat

By Eleanor Doughty of I News: How clean is your local river? In Scotland, less than half of rivers are in good condition – and according to the Environment Agency, just 14 per cent of English rivers are in good health. An investigation in August found that no English river can be certified as safe for wild swimming, with 86 per cent falling short of the EU’s ecological standard. A number of factors affect whether a river is in good or bad health, explains Simon Evans, chief

Cheshire Live reports: Cheshire Wildlife Trust has issued a public warning that risks are now posed to human health and they have also recorded a significant drop in levels of wildlife around the lake. The mere is a popular bathing spot, but the algal blooms during summer 2019 led to the tragic death of a dog which swam in the water. As a part of the efforts to help nature to recover at Hatch Mere and to keep people safe, a decision has… been made to no longer allow acce

The Telegraph reports: British beaches, bays and lakes have achieved record levels of cleanliness amid a surge in the popularity of wild swimming. Of the 420 places where you can take an outdoor dip in England, 300 were ranked as having ‘excellent’ water quality, according to an annual report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This is the best rating the country has received since the records system began in 2015. The impressive ranking come

Bude tidal pool at Summerleaze beach, north Cornwall. Photograph: Getty Images The Guardian reports: From an icy dip in Snowdonia to a plunge into the Atlantic in Cornwall, here is where to go if you are in the mood for an invigorating, cold-water swim – bobble hats are recommended. Bude tidal pool, Cornwall The rough waves and strong tides of the Atlantic can be daunting for even the strongest swimmer. This pool – part natural, part carved into the rock – offers a safer

My London Reports: Beckenham Park Place’s wild swimming lake was only open a matter of days before it had to close due to safety concerns. The lake reopened again on Saturday (August 24). However, there are strict rules now in place for those visiting. According to the Lewisham Council website visitors will need to do the following: You will need a ticket to come into the lake area. It is open from 7am to 6pm You must be able to swim 25 metres and be over eight years old to u

The Times reports: Dangerous pollutants in England’s waterways have reached their highest levels since modern testing began, The Times can reveal, with no river in the country now certified as safe for swimmers. Wild swimming has surged in popularity, with tens of thousands of people bathing in countryside rivers and ponds during the heatwave. However, an investigation by this newspaper has revealed that rivers in England are not tested enough to be considered safe for swimmi

Mail Online reports: A wild swimming venue has closed four days after a £6.8million relaunch because ‘snowflake’ parents complained the 219-year-old lake is not safe for their children. Beckenham Place Park was swamped with visitors after a £6.8million relaunch Ambulance had to be called on Monday after a child was rescued from the water Lewisham Council said the number of visitors at the lake exceeded forecasts Parents have complained claiming the venue did not have enough l

Leicestershire Live reports: The beach and aqua park at Rutland Water will be closed this weekend due to an outbreak of deadly blue-green algae. It follows routine tests carried out by Anglian Water which revealed increased levels of the bacteria, which is dangerous for dogs in particular, in parts of the reservoir. As a result, the water company has made the decision to restrict some activities this weekend as a precaution. The rest of the park including angling, mini golf,

ITV News reports: Henleaze Swimming Club celebrates its centenary this weekend. The club – the only one of its type in the country – was well-ahead of its time in gender equality and in the philosophy of physical mental wellness. The club has more members than ever – in fact there’s a three year wait to join. But the club’s fortunes have been mixed over the decades, as Rob Murphy reports… The flooded former limestone quarry in north Bristol had been used unofficially for swim

In the UK, news services feature safety warnings warning swimmers to stay out of open waters.  Contrast attitudes at home with this refreshing advice from Switzerland. The Local reports: Switzerland is blessed with a huge variety of lakes and rivers that are perfect for bathing in. But with a number of fatal incidents already hitting the news this summer, we look at the best way to swim in safety. Following the tragic death of Swiss footballer Florijana Ismaili in Lake Como,

The Times and Star report: A PARTICULARLY invasive form of weed which is threatening plants and wildlife in the Lake District is finally getting wider attention. There is a danger that New Zealand pigmyweed – described by the National Trust as “the scourge of Derwentwater” – could spread to other, none-infested lakes. Jessie Binns, who works for the National Trust as a visitor experience manager (North Lakes patch), said: “That’s what we are particularly worried about – if it