A beginners guide to wild swimming

Wild swimming has become a weekly routine for me. No matter the time of year, you’ll often find me by the lake going for a dip. Wild swimming has changed my life in so many ways. I was someone with 0 swimming knowledge before I started (apart from being in the pool on holiday and sitting on a lilo!), so it was incredibly daunting to get started. Turns out, it’s nowhere near as scary as I thought it was going to be, and the benefits I’ve felt since starting have been huge.

So, if you too have been inspired by idyllic instagram photos of waterfalls and hidden rock pools, but have no clue where to start, this is for you.

Why you need to start wild swimming

Before I started wild swimming, I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t get it. My mum would go off on a Sunday morning at the crack of dawn to meet her swimming friends at the lake, and tell me she felt like a new person when she got back. It sounded like a cult, and I was more than happy to let her go, and stay tucked up in my nice warm bed and have a few extra hours of sleep.

Fast forward to last year, and we lost our dog, Arthur, really unexpectedly on holiday. My mums answer to the grief was to swim, and as my anxiety and grief were sky high, and nothing else was helping, I decided to join her. When you’re in the cold water, all you can really think about is breathing and making it through the time you’re in the water, which is perfect when you’re mind is in overdrive.

I then joined my local Mental Health Swims group and it’s such a lovely and supportive group, who really are there to champion each other. I decided I would go during the summer, and thought I’d just be a fair weather swimmer. Then October and November came, and I didn’t want to stop until suddenly it’s Christmas Eve, there’s snow on the hills, and I’m in my wetsuit, in the water, laughing and singing we wish you a merry Christmas.

So, if wild swimming is a cult, consider me well and truly apart of it!

What is wild swimming?

Wild swimming is essentially swimming outside in natural bodies of water, be that lakes, tarns, lochs rivers, naturally formed pools or the sea.

There’s something about it that feels a bit wild in the best possible way. It gets your heart racing, your skin tingling, and your head clear in seconds.

What to wear Wild Swimming

There’s no right or wrong thing to wear when you go wild swimming. In the summer months, I just wear a normal swimming costume. As it gets colder, I move to a wetsuit however the one I have is a separate top and bottom making it a lot easier to get on and off! This is the wetsuit I use and I love it.

Two things I really recommend getting are; neoprene gloves and neoprene socks. I wear my neoprene socks throughout the year and it makes walking into stoney water a lot more pleasant!

The one thing you need before you go wild swimming is a float. I really recommend this one as it doubles up as a dry bag and has a safety whistle in it as well!

Where to wild swim in the UK

There are so many incredible places to swim in the UK, however if you’re starting out and feeling a little bit overwhelmed, I really recommend checking out Mental Health Swims. These are local groups around the country who host monthly swims that you can join (for free!).

What are the benefits of Wild Swimming

There’s a reason that nearly everyone you speak to who goes wild swimming raves about it. 

To start with, it’s a natural mood booster. Being in cold water releases endorphins, which relieves stress and pain, and releases dopamine which is our happy hormone. Our brains literally feel happier from the cold, which is quite hard to belive when the thought of getting into the cold water isn’t always the most appetising! 

There are also physical benefits to being in the cold water. From lowering your blood pressure to improving our metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

Is wild swimming safe

Staying safe is paramount when wild swimming as it can be dangerous.

Going with a group is a really good place to start, and the Mental Health Swims are great as the leaders all have the right training! 

1. Start slowly – let your body get used to the cold water. It can be tempting to just thing lets get it over with, but that can lead to cold water shock! So walk in slowly, focus on breathing, and don’t rush.
2. Don’t stay in for too long – when I last went, the water was over 16 degrees, so we could stay in longer. But as the temperatures cool, staying in for 5-10 mins can be enough. 
3. Make sure you have warm clothes to get into afterwards. Especially in winter, I wrap a hot water bottle in with the clothes I’m wearing after the swim, and it’s great as you feel so toasty and warm. A big coat or a dry robe, and fluffy socks as well! And don’t forget your coffee/tea/hot chocolate for when you get out to warm your insides up too!

Wild Swimming & Saunas

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of saunas popping up across the country at different wild swimming spots, and I’m obsessed.

Hot and cold therapy (which is what cold water swims and saunas are!) has so many benefits, and is also something that’s really fun to do with friends.

You can read all about my first experience of wild swimming and saunas in Yorkshire here!

8 lessons I’ve learnt since I started wild swimming

1. it’s okay to go at your own pace. no one is going to judge you for taking your time
2. finding a group to go with makes the whole experience so joyful. you really feel supported and cheered on!
3. it really doesn’t matter if you’ve forgotten to shave your legs
4. when you go with people who are passionate, their enthusiasm rubs off on you, and you feel that same passion (and it’s incredible!)
5. showing up really is the hardest part
6. you get used to the cold pretty quickly
7. it’s not an endurance test. if you only want to go on a sunny day, that’s totally fine. 
8. you really do feel great afterwards

So, are you ready to start wild swimming? It really is the perfect microadventure, and something that is free to do as well! If you’re looking for more microadventure inspo, make sure to check out all of our microadventure posts here.