Fantastic 5km stretch of swimming on river Ouse. No current but clean, deep water. Boat hire. Steep banks.
Place Categories: River Swims and Wild Swim.
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7 reviews
[…] the River Ouse to Anchor Inn, Barcombe Starting point: Barcombe Mills along the River Ouse Distance: 4 […]
-Five glorious autumn walks just an hour or so from London, Sep 09, 2016 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
My daughter and 6 friends went in for a dip and 2 days later 5 came down hard with sickness due to ecoli. They had a lovely day but would definitely think twice about doing it again.
-Kellie Marsh, Jul 20, 2016 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Wonderful swim today until…. Approached by a very angry middle aged man who was very cross that we had been swimming due to the blue green algae levels (no signs up to indicate this).
He shouted at us and when I asked him questions about it- he was very rude and marched off telling us to go directly to hospital—All very strange as if he was an official a few minutes putting up a sign (it is a popular spot after all) would seem a better use of time than marching up to people and shouting at them.
Very strange experience.
Beautiful dip though! X
-Ali Ceesay, Jul 19, 2016 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Used to swim here 50yrs ago! Mud getting in! Mud getting out! Terrific fun!!
-Sylvia Heasman, Apr 26, 2016 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
I’m visiting the area and looking at going for a swim in the Ouse at Isfield this weekend. Any up to date comments, tips or advice?
-Huw Jones, Apr 05, 2016 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
There are actually 38 sewage treatment works flowing into the Sussex Ouse. Whatever, our kids have given up swimming in the river at Barcombe as this frequently made them ill. No matter, as there are enough rain-fed ponds and small reservoirs around Barcombe to keep them happy.
-Simon Turner, Aug 23, 2015 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
brilliant
-Josh Tyler, Aug 08, 2015 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
-Sauna Bay, Jul 02, 2015 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
-Sauna Bay, Jul 02, 2015 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Hello-I wonder if anybody could help me?I am in Brighton and desperate to find somewhere close by to swim.I walk on crutches so the stony beach is no good,neither are steep banks!!!Any ideas?Thank Youx
-Marina Palmer, Jul 02, 2015 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
[…] in August 2013, I found a highly recommended swimming site on the wild swimming website at Barcombe Mills, near Lewes, in East […]
-Charleston Farmhouse and Barcombe Mills | aevbswims, Aug 31, 2014 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Had a really lovely swim today. The sides are really steep though – I wouldnt recommend going on your own.
-Sarah Wooller, Jul 17, 2014 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Had a really lovely swim today. The sides are really steep though – I wouldnt recommend going on your own.
-Sarah Wooller, Jul 17, 2014 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
hello campers!! And inflatable boats are on sale tomorrow at Lidle
-Joanne MacLeod, May 22, 2014 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Karl Parker may indeed have a point. The summer flow of the Ouse at Barcombe Mills is usually over 60% sewage effluent. None of the treatment works employ effluent disinfection, which means that they can (and usually do) contain pathogenic bacteria and viruses. There are also a number of cattle drinks along the river and cow dung is a renowned source of E.coli. Campylobacter is recognised as being a serious problem by South East Water, a company that abstracts water for potable supply at Barcombe Mills and they have installed ultra violet disinfection at there works to overcome the problem.
So, it is not just blue-green algae that swimmers should worry about.-Sam, Sep 15, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
There’s always one! Why don’t you restrict yourself to chlorine and tiles – you’d probably prefer swimming in others’ bathwater? Oops, given your obsession with disease you’d need to ensure your pool isn’t harbouring Cryptosporidium, a chlorine resistant parasite that survive for seven days in a chlorinated pool. Of course take care you don’t contract Legionnaires Disease lurking in the showers and/or air conditioning.
We have immune systems to resist infection, and Baby Boomers like me grew up playing in the raw sewage otherwise known as Liverpool Bay seawater. We also grew up among serious diseases like tuberculosis, polio, and diphtheria. Our immune systems were well challenged unlike nowadays. Possibly why I’ve been swimming in open water for 40 years without contracting in any disease – and I’ve swum in some seriously manky water.
I do have specialist scientific knowledge regarding water pollution and its risks, I’m also one of RALSA’s researchers.
Do go and get a life.
-Wildswimmer Pete, Sep 24, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
We had a lovely time there recently but I was approached by an irate member of the Ouse Angling Society who was saying they are going to ban us from coming, that there are perch that will bite your feet off… etc etc. I can only imagine he’s not got as much power as he wishes and had to take it out on me!
Can anyone tell me what our rights are for future encounters?
Can I put a canoe in anywhere for example?
Can I drive up to the top section, walk along the walls?
Many thanks
Libby
-Libby, Jul 17, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
hi libby obviously caught him on a bad day, im pretty sure they have no way of imposing bans on swimmers. I take a sup board from barcombe mills up past the anchor inn for about 2 miles. boating is fine however beware that the landlord of the anchor has access rights so by law he can stop you using the river from the anchor pub. he does enforce this, however he is a really nice guy and as long as you use his pub he’s okay. on a different note jumping off the disused railway bridge is a must!
-doug, Jul 22, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
We have been a couple of times now ….and my kids are desperate to find the railway bridge to jump off.
Is it near the pub?We have tended to swim further down the river.
-Anonymous, Aug 30, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
The water quality of any river or stream should taken in to consideration when so called wild swimming ,if it was poured in to glass and you were asked to drink it you would decline , would you eat wild water cress !!.
But the water is probably cleaner and safer to swim in than in the sea off of many of our South Coast resorts ,, where you dont swim but go through the motions!!!-Peter, May 10, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
I agree with JD, this is fantastic spot for a river swim, and for those that like to get the adrenaline pumping a bit more, there is an old 10-12ft railway bridge that is jumpable, along with some rope swings and overhanging trees. Great fun. I went this weekend, and got in with the pup. I have swum and jumped this river for at least the last four years and never had any problems – the water is extracted for drinking after-all! I would of course avoid after heavy rain as with anywhere else due to run off and the fact that its a lot colder than normal!
-Mike, May 07, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
/5Beautiful swimming and boats to hire but wouldn’t recommend after heavy rain as the wash from the fields definitely effects water quality, lovely though.
-Becca, Aug 23, 2012 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
/5We had a fabulous day there and all swam alot, but my 5 year old daughter threw up all night the next night, and I’m pretty sure it’s because she drank quite alot of the river water…so be cautious! It is beautiful though, and all the other swimmers were fine, probably because we didn’t drink it….
-ella Berthoud, Aug 20, 2012 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
/5There are a total of 27 water treatment plants along the Ouse all discharging thier nutrient rich waste into it. This may or may not be cause for concern, depending on your views, but in recent years we have noticed a marked increase in blue green algae particarly in the summer months under high temperature and very low flow conditions. This could well account for your daughters sickness,
Blue-green algae are naturally present in the majority of fresh water bodies throughout Uk for most of the year and have the potential to form blooms. With the exceptionally good weather favourable water temperatures and the nutrients present in the water, the natural growth of blue-green algae can take place, forming algal blooms.
You have been warned!
-Karl Parker, Sep 15, 2013 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Clean water? You have to be kidding.
I know 4 people who have swum here is the last few weeks and all got nasty stomach upsets.
Not surprising really given the surroundings and the amount of sewage in this river.
-Les, Aug 13, 2012 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
Les either has no idea what he’s taking about, or is clearly an Angler, they get pretty irate on this piece of water. If the conditions were so bad the fish wouldn’t be there so don’t believe their rubbish. This river is even one of the best in southern England for Sea Trout!
Have a look at the monthly water quality report here if you don’t believe me http://www.oart.org.uk/waterquality/monthly-report.htm.
Anyway it’s a great area to swim, although the banks are very steep! Please be respectful of the farmers and other river users (even if they don’t show you the same courtesy!).
-JD, Dec 18, 2012 - Barcombe Mills, Ouse
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[…] the River Ouse to Anchor Inn, Barcombe Starting point: Barcombe Mills along the River Ouse Distance: 4 […]
[…] in August 2013, I found a highly recommended swimming site on the wild swimming website at Barcombe Mills, near Lewes, in East […]