To think there is a severe lack of outdoor swimming venues in the UK?

[pinkmagic1]

I love swimming but hate sweaty indoor pools.
Today we went to Rutland water which has a man made beach and an area, watched by a life guard where you can swim. It was absolutely heaving.
We travelled over 30 miles to get there as there are no such places near where we live. All the lidos have closed and there used to be a lake with similar facilities nearby when I was younger but these are long gone. The lake still allows open water swimming clubs which is great, but nothing for a family wanting to enjoy a day in the water. People do still swim there but they get in trouble if caught.
Aibu to wish there were more places for safe and permitted outdoor swimming?

Iceland is full of naturally heated pools, some as hot as a bath. That is why it has a culture of outdoor swimming. I have swum there in a small river, surrounded by mountains, and the water was as warm as my bath. It was beautiful.

It’s colder in Iceland Andy their national sport is swimming outdoors. Every small town or village has a pool that is used year round.

Of course they do, it's all heated with geothermal energy.

And Iceland is normally about the same temperature as the north of Scotland.
Swimming in a heated pool in Iceland when it is cold outside is amazing. So relaxing. Only time you get cold is the walk from the pool to the changing room.

Thanks Barbara.
Every swimmer needs a watcher on the shore... I'm not sure DH would be up for that, unfortunately.

I live within an easy drive of the pool at Woodhall Spa, we love it there! I’d say we go at least twice each summer. There’s lots of nice pubs and a lovely cafe there. My friend’s children actually have their swimming lessons there in the summer! That’s run with charitable funding though.

I think it’s sad so many have fallen into decline. We go to the Lakes a lot and I always thought it was sad that the one at Grange over sands has stayed closed, it would be nice if they refurbished it like they did with Plymouth Lido.

@FaithInfinity they are campaigning to get Grange lido back!

I grew up in Essex but moved to the bottom of Mount Snowdon and we have lakes and lagoons within walking distance of our front door. Never am I more grateful than on the three hot days of the year when I can dip my feet but DP used to do triathlons etc and still loves the water, so used to be in and out (in his wetsuit!!) all year round.

I was at Salford Quays this afternoon and there were lots of people of all ages swimming in the basins around the Manchester Ship Canal

Yuk! Have they sorted out the Weil's disease there then?

I would love it, but here in Scotland it'll never happen. I mean, there's the odd one, but nothing mainstream.
Yesterday I had to re-wash my laundry, as the rain was bouncing so hard off the ground that everything became filthy.
And this is in Edinburgh where there's supposed to be less rainfall!

Ah RandomMess that would be great!

@FrancisCrawford You mean like the Orkney Polar Bears who swim 365 days a year in the sea? Or maybe the Shetland Selkies? This pic was taken 8th Jan, North Sea - I wasn't wearing a wetsuit...

Dieu Look for the FB group "Wild West Swimmers" - there are regular swims across Fife and I'm sure south of you too.

the weather isn't good enough in the UK.

When in France, I noticed very few private pools in the north, but many more as you go south. They have lot's of lakes available for leisure similar to Rutland Water, many much smaller, but they reliably have summers with many weeks in the high 20's low 30;s.