Living near good open water swimming

[Mounjaronew]

On the back of another thread but with slightly different parameters. I will retire soon. I have few family commitments. I’d like to live near good open water swimming opportunities either sea, lake, river i don’t mind just safe. I would swim in open water every day i can. Has anyone any recommendations of areas? Budget is around 300k.

Don’t know where you are but:

tynemouth (area of Newcastle) has a lovely beach and lots of people swim all year round. Great beach cafe for breakfast as well. It’s the sea so doesn’t get too warm or too cold. I swam in January this year and the sand was frozen (air minus 1) but the sea was still at about 8 degrees.

other options I’ve thought about are Great Yarmouth - quite cheap but definitely out on a limb travel wise.

obviously the Lake District has lots of swimming but getting a house on or very close to a lake is hideously expensive. There are houses close to the sea but I’m not sure how swimmable the sea is.

your criteria are also mine! I hope to downsize to somewhere I can swim every day.

Lake District!
I bought a large Victorian 5 bed , faves the sea so sunset views, £150k!
closest lakes are Bassenthwaite in 20 mins and Loweswater about 25 mins.
Swim in sea, lakes, rivers and tarns up here

Sounds amazing!

i swim all year round in sea. This sounds amazing!

Clevedon marine lake is near me, people swim year round, I’m fair weather only (also nice heated lido nearer which I prefer!) £300 is doable if you don’t mind either a small terrace or apartment, especially 55+ housing is in budget

Ellesmere in Shropshire, house prices are great and you have a choice or meres for wild swimming, some more suitable than others

Causeway coast NI is glorious, big sea swimmming community and beach saunas too

I’m not sure about the Lakes, some of them are being plagued by algae in summer. Not sure if that’s just the southern ones. The same may apply to other inland water.
We half seriously looked at Clevedon a while ago, the pool looks wonderful and it’s a nice town but probably quite expensive

I live in the Trossachs- absolutely spoiled for choice and excellent post swim cafes! You’d get a lot for your money up here!

Edinburgh! Portobello if you want the sea (and a sauna) or one of the Pentland villages for hill walks and reservoirs. Or further north to Fife. There are some lovely tidal pools in Cellardyke, Pittenweem and St Monans. St Andrews has beautiful sea swimming too.

Hah, move to Finland and you could have a nice house with a lakeside beach in your backgarden for 200k or less and could swim every day (hole in the ice in winter, sauna to warm up of course)

Look for an RNLI beach. Even in off season they won't be far if they have a lifeboat station on the beach.

For all year round swimming I would be tempted more by the South coast for slightly more warmth. More affordable areas are Bournemouth and Falmouth.

I’ve head that Scottish lochs are dangerous to swim in if you are not familiar with them. They can get very deep, very cold very quickly and you can go into cold water shock, even in summer.

Cold water shock can potentially be an issue in any body of water.

most open water venues that charge make you do an open water induction course either in person or online that talks you through the benefits and risks of open water swimming and how to be aware of it.

the general guidelines are if you are doing it for the first time it’s a good idea to go with a group or to a supervised venue.

as you get more experienced you also get good a listening to your body and knowing when to get out.

Scottish lochs can be deep and cold, as can the English Lakes. I can personally confirm that many Cambridgeshire rivers are also bloody cold in January/Fenruary although they are not deep.