Wild Swimming
Wild Swimming with Daniel Start
We have picked 12 of our favourite swims from Daniel Start's Wild Swimming book
Whilst the Wild Swimming book has 400 British wild swimming locations, and also covers water activates for all the family to enjoy, we have gone through and tried to pick our favourite 12 locations by swim and activity type.
1. Best for paddling – mainly shallow & popular with families
Tilford, River Wey
Paddling and pools just downstream of the bridge. Village Green, cricket & pub.
2. Best for Literary Swims – Where famous poets, writers or artisits once swam
Grantchester Meadows
Over 2 miles of meadows and swimming from Sheep’s Green down to the Orchard Tea Gardens in Granchester. Deep banks make this good for diving, but it can be muddy! Some weeds but clean.
3. Best for Skinny-dipping - Remote and secluded, perfect for a natural dip
Plodda Falls
Beautiful stretch of river among woods of Scots pine in this famous glen. Good plunge pool in stretch above falls or deep canyon below falls. Also happens to be Scotland’s second highest waterfall!
4. Best for Picnics – Beautiful places, not far from parking with good picnic areas or grassy banks
Wolf’s Leap, on the River Irfon
A valley of wild beauty. A series of deep pools at the bottom of a narrow, sculpted slot gorge. Open, sunny with flat rocks.
5. Best for Train Access – Within walking distance of a train station
Wraysbury Lakes
Vast area of wild gravel lakes a short walk from Wraysbury train station.
6. Best for Cycling – On dedicated cycle trails or routes.
Pangbourne, River Thames
Undeveloped and picturesque stretch of river along the edge of the Chiltern Hills with quick links into London. Clear with chalk beaches. Try the riverside walk and swim from Goring to Pangbourne on the north-east bank and return by train.
7. Best for Canoes & Boats – Good legal access with your canoe (or possibility to hire a boat)
Symonds Yat
On the River Wye, Small sandy bay and meadows, shelving to pool with large rocks on far bank
8. Best for Pubs – A cosy, warming pub just a splash away
Higher Glen Etive Pools
A dramatic glen with many wonderful pink rock river pools, easily accessible from the little road. Great wild camping. This first set of pools is one of the best in the country.
9. Best for Camping – Fantastic river or lakeside camping. Good for a moonlight swim perhaps?
Frensham Great Pond, Farnham
Sandy lake with beaches and buoyed-off swimming area. Sat among forest and open heathland. Parking, cafe and small museum which is popular with young families.
10. Best for Jumping – Mainly shallow and popular with families
Lacock Abbey
River beach below abbey and tree jumping 300m upstream into a deep pool.
11. Best for Tubing & Chutes – Great for playing in surf or current, or using a rubber ring
Belpool Island
Pretty wooded island and deep secret pool with an old iron ladder scaling the cliff.
12. Best for Waterfalls – Magically situated under waterfalls, big and small
The Witch’s Cauldron
A series of three falls and pools set in quick succession by roadside with some interesting rock formations.
You can read about much more about all the researched Wild Swimming locations in the book, which is available to purchase here:
10 ways to stay safe while wild Swimming:
Page 264 & 266 has more detailed safety information as does www.wildswimming.co.uk
*All above details and locations, text taken from the Wild Swimming book by Daniel Start
Daniel Start also publishes a series of local Wild Guides which cover the best places to swim, both inland and at the coast in different regions of the UK, plus a new series of Wild Swimming Walks books which include walks and wild swims.
Zoggs readers can receive 20% off all Wild Things swimming and other adventure books with code Zoggs21 until 15th May at www.wildthingspublishing.com
