Cold water swimmers including sea, lakes and rivers

[TriSkiRun99]

After sea swimming regularly since May I’m hoping to carry on. Is anyone else hoping to carry on open water or sea swimming through the winter? If you fancy supporting each other and sharing hints n tips come join me. I’ve just bought some socks and neoprene hat, I’m hoping to to stay in my cossie as long as possible but I do have a wet suit if I cave.

I lasted 8mins this morning was bitterly cold with the north Eastly wind despite two winters swimming through my tolerance hasn’t grown. That’s wearing a jacket but bare legs. Have only missed Tuesday this week it’s been a head saver swimming nearly every day this last 10d. Plan to go Sat & sun as it’s set calm if just flipping freezing

Does anyone swim in the North Sea?
We’re off to Northumberland at Easter and would love for some swim suggestions. We will definitely be going to lindesfarne and dunstanburgh beach

Lovely dip this morning in a local lake. Not sure of temp but lasted 5 minutes in bikini. Came out when it started to snow!!

Billy no tips but we’re off to the Yorkshire Dales. I’m checking out waterfalls to swim in!

@LazyDoll Now Yorkshire dales I can do. I have relatives in Yorkshire.

The brownlees train in Semerwater, there’s some nice wild swim spots near grassington (where they filmed the new all creatures great and small)
I don’t think it’ll be open yet but there’s a campaign to save otley lido and ilkley lido looks nice.

I once had a mid-hike dip in Semmerwater many years ago.
Can't beat a spontaneous mid-hike dip on a hot day!

Ohh felt like one of my coldest dips this morning I was only in 10mins but had after drop kicking in whilst getting changed felt proper cold didn’t hang around much after just got on bike home to warm shower 🥶 beautiful morning though very frosty and clear sea. I’ve only missed one day in last 2-wks

It was incredible this morning. Probably 8 degrees but no wind and beautifully clear. I’m fine with cold as long as no wind.

I’m loving the fact that it’s starting to warm up a bit, I’m proud I swan through the winter but enjoying it far more now.

I do have the problem in that I’m too distracted looking at the wildlife to want to do front crawl I’m just pootling along doing breaststroke enjoying the view.

Billy thank you!! We’re going to Deepdale so near Ingleton but I’ve located both those spots and they’re relatively close thank you!

BogRoll I LOVE amid hike dip! Son no.2 is a big fan too! Dartmoor is FAB for them!!

I totally get that Billy! I’m not a crawler anyway but I’m often oogling the birds!! There were about 20 Canada geese where I was yesterday…

SwimBike that’s incredible! You are a machine!!!! I’m
Not sure if I could get on a bike after! Is it downhill after your swim??

No it’s uphill @LazyDoll but that’s good as it warms you up.
No swim today as a cold settling in 🤧the rest of family have it so I’m not surprised it’s got me too.
Swimming watching the wildlife sounds relaxing we get sea gulls and boats, and dodge the jelly fish which freak me out in the summer

Get well soon! Boats make for choppy waters …bane of my life paddleboarding. Jellyfish freak me out a bit. I’d have to get an id book of what stings and what doesn’t!!

Oh god, boats, I have a collie who is reactive to rowers. Please explain this to me if anyone can. Rowers are evil, more evil than squirrels, it makes our post swim walk interesting when she’s with us.

Whaaaat why are squirrels evil?! SEAGULLS now they’re evil!!!!

PS we had a family dog that was reactive to anything with wheels except cars. Walks were v v v tedious

@LazyDoll

Whaaaat why are squirrels evil?! SEAGULLS now they’re evil!!!!

Haha I don’t know but my collie truly believes them to be and we must be protected with lots of barking 😂

Off for a lido swim this morning I think the heating has been on

Ooh hello!

I've found my people!

Been swimming all winter at 6:30 am weekdays, later at weekend.

Been in most days ( except when dangerous)

Live in coastal West Sussex.

Loving the warmer days - Sundays swim was amazing- no wind and crystal Clear

So jealous @missfliss love the sea really wished I lived closer.

Some git turned the heating on at the lido that meant it was mid 20s temperature and I had to share it with more people. (I know I can’t expect a 50m pool to myself). I did swim more though.

Hello ladies,
only just found this thread. So good to read all these conversations. I've just completed my first year of swimming all year round. I joined the Serpentine club during lockdown and have been going about once or twice a week. Usually only for 5 mins at a time but it's slowly getting longer as the weather is warming up. Water temperature was 9.6 this morning. Never got below freezing all winter, one of the beauties of living in London! Really admire those of you swimming in the North Sea and much colder areas.
Been a lifelong swimmer but am enjoying it so much more outdoors. There's nothing to beat the open sky, trees, ducks and swans!
Happy swimming all!!

I’d love to swim in the serpentine one day @PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle I look every time we are likely to be anywhere near London but the schedule is always too full for me to want selfish swim time just for me 😂

I love the name Puddleglum. Perfect for someone who loves cold water

Thanks @BogRollBOGOF.
I must admit the name was more of a tribute to C.S. Lewis but I do like the connection with cold water swimming as well.
@Billybagpuss - can't wait for Monday, there's going to be a Rubber Duck Race!

Hi MissFliss and Puddleglum that sea looks beautiful and the Sepentine swims sounds awesome!! I’ve been walking rather than swimming (52km and 4 mountains in 4 days in the Dales). Lovely tarns and waterfalls but just too cold to expect my family to hang about for me and a packed schedule so no swimming . Desperate to get in done cold water now so must try over Easter weekend!!

Some idiot turned the heating in in the lido. 25 degrees at the weekend, some feeble excuse about wanting more customers in.

Wowsers!! It’s been a while (years!) since I’ve been in water that warm!! What is it usually? 14°?