wisw:wild_swimming

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wisw:wild_swimming [2026/01/02 20:57] – [Wild swimming] Simon Grantwisw:wild_swimming [2026/04/05 18:11] (current) – Simon Grant
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-# Wild swimming+This topic is part of [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. 
 +====== Wild swimming ======
  
  
-![](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wild_swimming.jpg)+![](wild_swimming.jpg)
  
 --- ---
  
-> _"My preference is swimming in the sea. I find the sea is more liberating, wild and good fun rather than plodding up and down a pool."_ - Jo Brand,+> "My preference is swimming in the sea. I find the sea is more liberating, wild and good fun rather than plodding up and down a pool." — Jo Brand.
  
  
- +===== What is wild swimming? =====
-## What is wild swimming?+
  
 'Wild' swimming is the only term that covers what we're talking about, really. It's not just 'swimming' because that includes indoor swimming pools; it's not 'outdoor swimming' because that includes lidos and outdoor pools; it's not 'swimming in rivers and lakes', because it also includes seas, oceans, lochs, pools, reservoirs, gravel & sand pits, old quarries, estuaries, firths, ponds, streams and anywhere else you can swim in nature - and then the name would be a bit too long. Wild swimming nails it. 'Wild' swimming is the only term that covers what we're talking about, really. It's not just 'swimming' because that includes indoor swimming pools; it's not 'outdoor swimming' because that includes lidos and outdoor pools; it's not 'swimming in rivers and lakes', because it also includes seas, oceans, lochs, pools, reservoirs, gravel & sand pits, old quarries, estuaries, firths, ponds, streams and anywhere else you can swim in nature - and then the name would be a bit too long. Wild swimming nails it.
  
-{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cove-2.jpg 640 360}}+{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cove-2.jpg }}
  
 In the early 20th century there were outdoor swimming clubs all over the UK, but they slowly died out as indoor pools were introduced, and our waterways became more polluted. Back then it didn't seem at all eccentric to swim in nature, as it still doesn't on the continent, where lakes often turn into lidos in summer. In the early 20th century there were outdoor swimming clubs all over the UK, but they slowly died out as indoor pools were introduced, and our waterways became more polluted. Back then it didn't seem at all eccentric to swim in nature, as it still doesn't on the continent, where lakes often turn into lidos in summer.
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 Also, British water bodies are generally less polluted than they were 50 years ago, as manufacturing industries have been exported to the Far East. Whatever that means for the global environment or our economy, it means cleaner rivers, lakes and coastal seas in the UK, which is one of the reasons that wild swimming is taking off again - although agricultural runoff and sewage discharges are a problem, so it's best to [check the state of water bodies](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/water-pollution-uk-where-wild-swimming) before swimming in them. Also, British water bodies are generally less polluted than they were 50 years ago, as manufacturing industries have been exported to the Far East. Whatever that means for the global environment or our economy, it means cleaner rivers, lakes and coastal seas in the UK, which is one of the reasons that wild swimming is taking off again - although agricultural runoff and sewage discharges are a problem, so it's best to [check the state of water bodies](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/water-pollution-uk-where-wild-swimming) before swimming in them.
  
-{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cap-1.jpg }} +{{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-cap-1.jpg } 
-## What are the benefits of wild swimming?+} 
 +===== What are the benefits of wild swimming? =====
  
 - Don't need a bricks & mortar pool, with all the embodied energy, electricity, heating, chlorine and habitat loss that that entails. - Don't need a bricks & mortar pool, with all the embodied energy, electricity, heating, chlorine and habitat loss that that entails.
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 {{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-dive-1.jpg }} {{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-dive-1.jpg }}
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Safety+==== Safety ====
  
 - Make sure you can swim well first; and if you are going to swim anywhere there might be boat traffic, it's a good idea to wear a brightly-coloured swimming hat, so that you can be seen. - Make sure you can swim well first; and if you are going to swim anywhere there might be boat traffic, it's a good idea to wear a brightly-coloured swimming hat, so that you can be seen.
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 {{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-walk-1.jpg }} {{ http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/wild-swimming-walk-1.jpg }}
  
-### Legalities+==== Legalities ====
  
 In Scotland it's clear - you can swim anywhere. In England and Wales, it's much less clear, but it's certainly not illegal to swim in most open water. In Scotland it's clear - you can swim anywhere. In England and Wales, it's much less clear, but it's certainly not illegal to swim in most open water.
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 The [Canal & River Trust](http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/) don't allow swimming in canals or rivers used for navigation. See the [River & Lake Swimming Association](http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/) for more info on legalities. The [Canal & River Trust](http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/) don't allow swimming in canals or rivers used for navigation. See the [River & Lake Swimming Association](http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/) for more info on legalities.
  
-### Practicalities+==== Practicalities ====
  
 - Just do it - it's not cold once you're in, and when you get out you feel tingly and warm all over. - Just do it - it's not cold once you're in, and when you get out you feel tingly and warm all over.
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 - Wetsuits often have a little zip pocket for your car key / valuables, so that you don't have to worry about your belongings. Don't try it with an electronic car key though! If you want to keep things dry, there are companies that sell waterproof belts and pouches etc. - Wetsuits often have a little zip pocket for your car key / valuables, so that you don't have to worry about your belongings. Don't try it with an electronic car key though! If you want to keep things dry, there are companies that sell waterproof belts and pouches etc.
  
-### Other things you can do+==== Other things you can do ====
  
 Join the [Outdoor Swimming Society](http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/) or the [River & Lake Swimming Association](http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/) and help campaign for more access for wild swimmers. Join the [Outdoor Swimming Society](http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/) or the [River & Lake Swimming Association](http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/) and help campaign for more access for wild swimmers.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Beginners' guide to wild swimming](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/wild-swimming/further-info/beginners-guide-to-wild-swimming) - [Beginners' guide to wild swimming](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/wild-swimming/further-info/beginners-guide-to-wild-swimming)
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[pond:ponds|Ponds]] 
 +- [[ntaw:nature_awareness|Nature awareness]] 
 +- [[ntsw:natural_swimming_pools|Natural swimming pools]] 
 +- [[coas:coastal_foraging|Coastal foraging]] 
 +- [[natt:nature_therapy|Nature therapy]]  
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  
  • wisw/wild_swimming.1767387459.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/01/02 20:57
  • by Simon Grant