Wash Pool, Irfon
Llanwrtyd Wells
A wide, open pool at the end of a short gorge with shelving access, about 2m deep. Long swim...
read moreSgwd Gwladys / Lady Falls
Pontneddfechan
A graceful column of water falls 10m into a deep, large plunge pool set in an amphitheatre in the...
read moreHorseshoe Falls
Pontneddfechan
A fantastic set of deep forest plunge pools beneath a horseshoe-shaped Waterfall or Gorge.
read moreCrickhowell, Usk
Crickhowell
A large pool, up to 2m deep, beneath the arched medieval bridge of Crickhowell. Rather open and visible, but...
read morePen-doll Rocks
Builth Wells
An exciting stretch of the Wye narrowing through rocky cliffs. Downstream are safe white sandy bays. Upstream the water...
read moreLittle Canyon
Pontneddfechan
An exciting and relatively safe piece of gorge swimming. A pool flows slowly through a deep, narrow channel, 5m...
read moreThe Warren
Hay-on-Wye
A popular stretch of commoner’s meadow by the side of the Wye. White shingle beach and shallows below the...
read moreSlippery Stones
Ashopton
On the young river Derwent, downstream of the foot bridge, about a mile up from the car park at...
read moreMermaid’s Pool
Dovedale and Lathkill
Thorpe
A stunning deep limestone gorge with caves, rock spires and shallow pools. Popular stepping stones good for paddling at...
read moreThree Shires Head, Dane
Flash
Two Waterfall or Gorge and plunge pools (shallow, 1m) plus bridges set in the small but wild valley at...
read moreHatchmere
Hatchmere
A relatively shallow, warm 300m’long lake in the nationally important wildlife area of Delamere Forest. A grassy area next...
read moreColemere and Ellesmere
Ellesmere
An area of nine glacial meres. Colemere is remote, beautiful and quiet with a shore path and small sailing...
read moreOutney Common
Bungay
A 3km stretch of the Waveney meandering around open common land. Good water quality, up to 2m deep in...
read moreLamas, River Bure
Buxton
A quiet, rural idyllic stretch of the Bure river, flowing past gardens, fields and a church. Deep and clear...
read moreGrantchester Meadows
Cambridge
A range of swimming opportunities along 2km of the meadows ending at the Orchard Tea Garden. Deep banks make...
read moreSanton, Little Ouse
Thetford
30km further up the A11 from Cambridge. Pretty chalk stream running through forest with shelving access above footbridge next...
read moreRiver Chelmer near Ulting
Hatfield Peverel
This is a beautiful stretch of the river Chelmer. Try downstream from Hoemill Bridge and lock, or walk for...
read moreDedham Vale
Dedham
A beautiful open historic vale, site of Flatford Mill, where people row on boats and occasionally swim. Fen Bridge...
read moreBackney Common
Ross-on-Wye
Ancient but little known common in tight loop of Wye providing large shingle and sandy beach shelving to large...
read moreSymonds Yat
Ross-on-Wye
Small sandy bay, meadows, shelving to 2m. Large rocks on far bank. 5km N of Monmouth on A40 (dir...
read moreLeintwardine, Teme
Ludlow
A stretch of open common with pub, bridge, church and rope swings. Deepish junction pool. Little beaches and fun...
read moreEyton, Lugg and Arrow
Leominster
Teme runs through sunny open fields, often shallow but with deep pools above several weirs.
read moreLugg Meadows
Hereford
Large meadows just outside Hereford. Meandering gentle river with deep holes (2m) in bends and plenty of shelving gravel...
read moreStonesfield, Evenlode
Woodstock
Pretty footbridge and clear, clean, shallow river on grassy banks below gentle Cotswold escarpment. Does not deepen to more...
read moreLechlade, Thames
Lechlade
A popular stretch of Thames upstream from town with good access and a junction pool for swimming. Silty shallows...
read moreCheese Wharf
Lechlade
Cheese Wharf is a roadside glade, deep pool in river bend, rope swing, possible to dive in from bank.
read moreMinster Lovell, Windrush
Witney
A small, clear, pretty Cotswold river running through the romantic grounds of the ruins. Just deep enough to swim...
read moreEynsford, Darent
Eynsford
Clear, clean, shallow ford and stream beds at Eynsford (0.5m) though beware of cars. Upstream a pretty stretch of...
read morePort Meadow, Thames
Oxford
2km of river with little beaches (R bank) and grassy expanses of meadow (L bank). Shelving to up to...
read moreClifton Hampden, Thames
Didcot
A pretty bridge and pub featured in Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat. Sandy bays shelving to...
read moreHurley Island, Thames
Marlow
An historic village with river parkland, wooded river islands and a 1000-year-old pub. Several places to swim. Can be...
read moreFrensham Great Pond
Farnham
Huge sandy lake with small buoyed-off swimming area shelving to 1.5m deep and 50m wide. Forest and open heathland....
read moreBarcombe Mills, Ouse
Lewes
Fantastic 5km stretch of swimming on river Ouse. No current but clean, deep water. Boat hire. Steep banks.
read moreHampstead Ponds
Hampstead
Swimming ponds in middle of wild, hilly heath. Woody, sheltered aspect, open on one side. Changing areas and lifeguards....
read moreTilford, River Wey
Farnham
Shallow river and ford at confluence of two Weys. Paddling. Quintessential village green, cricket matches and pub. Deeper below...
read moreCuckmere Meanders
Seaford
Wide, shallow, moderately warm oxbow lakes cut off from the main Cuckmere stream. Grass banks and chalky beds. Non...
read moreFarleigh Hungerford, Frome
Trowbridge
One of the country’s last river-swimming clubs occupies a pleasant, deep but narrow stretch of the Frome above a...
read moreWarleigh Weir, Claverton
Bath
ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE WEST BANK (CLAVERTON, A36). DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ACCESS FROM WARLEIGH / CONKWELL. 100m long...
read moreBadgworthy Pool
Malmsmead, 2km
Charming but small plunge pool underneath shallow Waterfall or Gorge and big tree in popular Doone Valley woodland walk....
read moreColber Bridge
Sturminster Newton
An open stretch of the Stour with grassy fields by elegant white wrought-iron Colber Bridge. A little weedy and...
read morePamphill
Wimborne Minster
A wide stretch of mature river at old ford with weir, bridge and long upstream swimming stretch. Good access...
read moreLong Pool, Watersmeet
Lynmouth, 3km
Watersmeet is a famous National Trust area of wooded river walks. There is a Waterfall or Gorge with small...
read moreRockford Pools
Lynmouth, 5km
Rockford is tiny hamlet next to the tumbling wooded East Lyn above Watersmeet. Good real ale pub and series...
read moreSherdon and Landacre
Withypool, 7km
Small junction pool of Barle and Sherdon, upstream from popular paddling at Landacre Bridge. Open and sunny with plenty...
read moreTarr Steps, Barle
Withypool, 7km
Ancient stone ‘clapper’ bridge, very popular with children for paddling. Deeper pool of Barle about 20 mins upstream through...
read moreCullever Steps
Okehampton, 7km
Small plunge pool in narrow rocky valley below Scarey Tor. Some grass for picnics and large rocks for sunbathing....
read moreGreat Torrington
Great Torrington
The Torridge at Torrington Common is fast flowing and pebbly but mainly shallow (1m) with some deeper holes. Woody,...
read moreCow Castle, Barle
Simonsbath, 3km
Deepish, smallish pool (10m x 20m x 1.5m deep) in the babbling river Barle in wild scenery beneath the...
read moreShilley Pool
South Zeal, 2km
Small, dammed plunge pool in brook at edge of moor. Shallow (1m) but set beneath flat rock rapids with...
read moreMel Tor Pools
Wellsfoot Island
Ashburton, 5km
Wonderful wooded island with red sand beach shelving into deep river bend with Holne cliff towering up behind. Rusty,...
read moreChagford Lido, Teign
Whiddon Down A30, 5km
River-fed swimming pool with cafホ set in fields on outskirts of tiny Chagford. Largest outdoor pool in Devon. Upstream...
read moreSalmon Leaps, Teign
Whiddon Down A30, 3km
Long river pool in woods beneath Castle Drogo. About 1.5m deep. Weir and footbridge. The Teign cascades into three...
read moreRespryn Bridge
Bodmin, 5km
Wooded National Trust estate riverside walk. Some sections 1.5’2m deep. Swim against the current. Wooden bankside deckings (for fishing)....
read moreBodmin Parkway
Bodmin, 5km
Still in the Lanhydrock Estate, this swim is off the original driveway to the main house from behind the...
read moreSpitchwick Common
Ashburton A38, 5km
Peaty water, clean from the mountain, this is the most popular and accessible Dart swimming location, especially in summer....
read moreGolitha Falls
Liskeard, 8km
Beautiful stream of young river Fowey runs through ancient oak woodland. First 700m wide path provides access to shallows...
read moreHolne Pool
Holne, 0.5km
Small Waterfall or Gorge with sunbathing rock and large pool in secluded Holne Woods, close to Holne and its...
read moreSt Nectan’s Kieve
Tintagel, 2km
A tall, slender Waterfall or Gorge at the head of a wild woody dingle. It falls into a high...
read moreColliford Lake and Dozmary
Bolventor, 4km
A huge moorland lake, the highest and largest in Cornwall. Open access on the west side with chalky, shelving...
read moreCornish Tipi Holidays
Port Isaac, 6km
A luscious, chalk-green, spring-fed quarry lake on private land, part of Cornish Tipi Holidays. Wooded cliffs and banks. Very...
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