What’s all this stuff about “wild swimming”

[Notcontent]

I have seen references to “wild swimming” over the last couple of year but wasn’t sure what it was all about. However, I was recently talking to a friend, who was being very enthusiastic about wild swimming, and it seems that this just means swimming in rivers, lakes, oceans etc - anywhere that’s not a pool. I have swum in many lakes and oceans but I didn’t realise that I was doing “wild swimming”...

It’s a bit like “vegan leather”... there must be lots of examples of these new labels.

If you live on the south coast, cosmicpassages , it’s a bit of a trek to the Lakes and Dartmoor but parts of the Solent fill that gap! Southsea near the Eastney end, Gurnard, Totland, off Egypt point, Ryde if you don’t mind a bit of a hike to find enough depth.

@BikeRunSki

Alice Roberts’ Wild Swimming Programme

There is a school of thought that believes that immersing yourself in cold water stimulates an increased immune response. I just find it very invigorating and far more refreshing than swimming in a pool.

Not quite as adventurous as diving into a cold river but I have been cold showering first thing in the morning for a year and although tough to get used to I have definately noticed an improvement in the reactiveness of my Raynauds symptoms as well as feeling a fab buzz for the rest of the day.

I "accidentally" swam in Windermere once (was supposed to be kayaking ) and it started something. It was a revelation that it was possible to go swimming without sore eyes, no chlorine or salt.

@lljkk

Some people reserve 'wild swimming' to mean fitness swimming rather than having a fun wallow. I find insisting on that distinction silly, but so be it. I am going tomorrow to a river for a fitness swim. There is a long list of nasty germs in the river, no doubt. Please don't swallow any water during your wild swims, gals.

I love open water swimming, but I must admit I have worried about the water going in my mouth.

Not sure how I can avoid it really.

I have a friend who does ice swimming, where the water temperature should be 5degC or less...

If you’re worried about Weils cover any cuts, wash hands before eating / drinking afterwards. Also, for related health and safety reasons, I wouldn’t swim near a sewage treatment works esp after a heavy rain storm! I really want to try swimming in the Thames nearby but I’m a wimp in cold water. Our lido is 25 degrees and feel cold!

I've always done a bit of wild swimming, but 3 years ago i picked up a very nasty bacterial infection and ended up in hospital. So do take precautions. I had a burst blister on my heel uncovered and learned the hard way. Cover open wounds very carefully, however small..

Our local swimming hole has been ruined by that bloody book

And I do think it’s a bit of a wanky term used by people who think they’ve discovered something new and previously undiscovered

I love it but here in Scotland its just a teeny bit....baltic!

"Some people reserve 'wild swimming' to mean fitness swimming rather than having a fun wallow."

This. I think of wild swimming as swimming in a river or lake (not the sea) and going for a "proper" swim, not a splash around at the end of a hike. It's a slightly wanky phrase, but then again "open water swimming" sounds like a hobby for geography teachers...

We stopped off at Farleigh Hungerford swimming club today. Absolute bliss. If you swam 250 m you had the river virtually to yourselves.