Wild Swim

Skelwith Bridge

Beautiful small tarn, relatively warm, under skyline of Langdale Pikes. Basic but scenic campsite adjoining.

Blawith

A stretch of wooded rocky headlands with secluded sandy coves. Peel Island sits across a 100m strait.

Boot

A small rocky gorge and pool on the Esk, close to the village of boot with its campsite and...

Boot

A long series of fantastic pools. Tongue Pot is more dramatic with high jumps possible (5m deep) many small...

Llanberis

A deep blue lake set under a 100m steep rock wall, famous in climbing and traditional folklore. Beach on...

Wasdale Head

Quartz-bedded, very clear, long lake (5km) with good shelving beaches and some of the most stunning scenery in the...

Golan

A clear blue tarn in a hidden cleft, at the head of one of most remote and beautiful valleys...

Harlech

A tarn in the remote northern Rhinogs, with cliffs for jumping and fabulous views of the sea. Good hotel...

Tanygrisiau

Two small shallow tarns at 500m at the head of Croesor valley. Fantastic views of Cnicht and the sea....

Corris Uchaf

A huge, dramatic glacial cwm in the crater of Cadair Idris set beneath 400m high mountain walls. It’s a...

Beddgelert

A 1km-long valley lake at the foot of Snowdon with stunning craggy backdrop. Accessible directly from the main road.

Beddgelert

An extended series of pools and falls starting close to the Snowdon Watkins path. Rather overlooked but popular with...

Maentwrog

A beautiful wild gorge, off the tourist track, with 2km woodland walk to high Waterfall or Gorge with deep...

Betws-y-Coed

A picturesque, narrow gorge with access for ﾣ1. Some large rocks to sit on and a deep section down...

Dolgellau

A large deep plunge pool at this littlevisited Waterfall or Gorge, set among the ruins of a former goldmine....

Llangollen

A very deep, completely clear azure blue lake at the bottom of a spectacular quarry crater (Moel-y-Faen). Steep scramble...

Fairbourne

A very deep, clear green’blue pool (50m x 30m) in a mysterious cavern entered via a short dark tunnel....

Llanwrtyd Wells

A series of deep pools, about 10m across and 3m deep, at the outflow a narrow, interesting slot gorge....

Llanwrtyd Wells

A wide, open pool at the end of a short gorge with shelving access, about 2m deep. Long swim...

Twynllanan

A high lake in the shadow of the Black Mountain, legendary home of a lake nymph. Deep (18m) and...

Brecon

A string of magical shallow Waterfall or Gorge through fairy woodland under heathercovered hillside, under Pen-y-Fan. Some moss-covered. Pools...

Pontneddfechan

A graceful column of water falls 10m into a deep, large plunge pool set in an amphitheatre in the...

Pontneddfechan

A fantastic set of deep forest plunge pools beneath a horseshoe-shaped Waterfall or Gorge.

Crickhowell

A large pool, up to 2m deep, beneath the arched medieval bridge of Crickhowell. Rather open and visible, but...

Builth Wells

An exciting stretch of the Wye narrowing through rocky cliffs. Downstream are safe white sandy bays. Upstream the water...

Hay-on-Wye

A popular stretch of commoner’s meadow by the side of the Wye. White shingle beach and shallows below the...

Pontneddfechan

An exciting and relatively safe piece of gorge swimming. A pool flows slowly through a deep, narrow channel, 5m...

Thorpe

A stunning deep limestone gorge with caves, rock spires and shallow pools. Popular stepping stones good for paddling at...

Flash

Two Waterfall or Gorge and plunge pools (shallow, 1m) plus bridges set in the small but wild valley at...

Leek

Tiny moor-top pool steeped in legend with views of The Roaches.

Ashopton

On the young river Derwent, downstream of the foot bridge, about a mile up from the car park at...

Bungay

A 3km stretch of the Waveney meandering around open common land. Good water quality, up to 2m deep in...

Buxton

A quiet, rural idyllic stretch of the Bure river, flowing past gardens, fields and a church. Deep and clear...

Hatchmere

A relatively shallow, warm 300m’long lake in the nationally important wildlife area of Delamere Forest. A grassy area next...

Ellesmere

An area of nine glacial meres. Colemere is remote, beautiful and quiet with a shore path and small sailing...

Dedham

A beautiful open historic vale, site of Flatford Mill, where people row on boats and occasionally swim. Fen Bridge...

Cambridge

A range of swimming opportunities along 2km of the meadows ending at the Orchard Tea Garden. Deep banks make...

Thetford

30km further up the A11 from Cambridge. Pretty chalk stream running through forest with shelving access above footbridge next...

Hatfield Peverel

This is a beautiful stretch of the river Chelmer. Try downstream from Hoemill Bridge and lock, or walk for...

Ross-on-Wye

Ancient but little known common in tight loop of Wye providing large shingle and sandy beach shelving to large...

Ross-on-Wye

Small sandy bay, meadows, shelving to 2m. Large rocks on far bank. 5km N of Monmouth on A40 (dir...

Ludlow

A stretch of open common with pub, bridge, church and rope swings. Deepish junction pool. Little beaches and fun...

Leominster

Teme runs through sunny open fields, often shallow but with deep pools above several weirs.

Hereford

Large meadows just outside Hereford. Meandering gentle river with deep holes (2m) in bends and plenty of shelving gravel...

Woodstock

Pretty footbridge and clear, clean, shallow river on grassy banks below gentle Cotswold escarpment. Does not deepen to more...

Lechlade

A popular stretch of Thames upstream from town with good access and a junction pool for swimming. Silty shallows...

Lechlade

Cheese Wharf is a roadside glade, deep pool in river bend, rope swing, possible to dive in from bank.

Witney

A small, clear, pretty Cotswold river running through the romantic grounds of the ruins. Just deep enough to swim...

Eynsford

Clear, clean, shallow ford and stream beds at Eynsford (0.5m) though beware of cars. Upstream a pretty stretch of...

Oxford

2km of river with little beaches (R bank) and grassy expanses of meadow (L bank). Shelving to up to...

Didcot

A pretty bridge and pub featured in Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat. Sandy bays shelving to...

Marlow

An historic village with river parkland, wooded river islands and a 1000-year-old pub. Several places to swim. Can be...

Lewes

Fantastic 5km stretch of swimming on river Ouse. No current but clean, deep water. Boat hire. Steep banks.

Farnham

Huge sandy lake with small buoyed-off swimming area shelving to 1.5m deep and 50m wide. Forest and open heathland....

Farnham

Shallow river and ford at confluence of two Weys. Paddling. Quintessential village green, cricket matches and pub. Deeper below...

Hampstead

Swimming ponds in middle of wild, hilly heath. Woody, sheltered aspect, open on one side. Changing areas and lifeguards....

Seaford

Wide, shallow, moderately warm oxbow lakes cut off from the main Cuckmere stream. Grass banks and chalky beds. Non...

Trowbridge

One of the country’s last river-swimming clubs occupies a pleasant, deep but narrow stretch of the Frome above a...

Bath

ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE WEST BANK (CLAVERTON, A36). DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ACCESS FROM WARLEIGH / CONKWELL. 100m long...

Malmsmead, 2km

Charming but small plunge pool underneath shallow Waterfall or Gorge and big tree in popular Doone Valley woodland walk....

Sturminster Newton

An open stretch of the Stour with grassy fields by elegant white wrought-iron Colber Bridge. A little weedy and...

Wimborne Minster

A wide stretch of mature river at old ford with weir, bridge and long upstream swimming stretch. Good access...

Withypool, 7km

Small junction pool of Barle and Sherdon, upstream from popular paddling at Landacre Bridge. Open and sunny with plenty...

Withypool, 7km

Ancient stone ‘clapper’ bridge, very popular with children for paddling. Deeper pool of Barle about 20 mins upstream through...

Lynmouth, 3km

Watersmeet is a famous National Trust area of wooded river walks. There is a Waterfall or Gorge with small...

Lynmouth, 5km

Rockford is tiny hamlet next to the tumbling wooded East Lyn above Watersmeet. Good real ale pub and series...

Great Torrington

The Torridge at Torrington Common is fast flowing and pebbly but mainly shallow (1m) with some deeper holes. Woody,...

Simonsbath, 3km

Deepish, smallish pool (10m x 20m x 1.5m deep) in the babbling river Barle in wild scenery beneath the...

South Zeal, 2km

Small, dammed plunge pool in brook at edge of moor. Shallow (1m) but set beneath flat rock rapids with...

Okehampton, 7km

Small plunge pool in narrow rocky valley below Scarey Tor. Some grass for picnics and large rocks for sunbathing....

Holne, 3.5km

Small Waterfall or Gorge pool

Ashburton, 5km

Wonderful wooded island with red sand beach shelving into deep river bend with Holne cliff towering up behind. Rusty,...

Whiddon Down A30, 3km

Long river pool in woods beneath Castle Drogo. About 1.5m deep. Weir and footbridge. The Teign cascades into three...

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...

Liskeard, 8km

Beautiful stream of young river Fowey runs through ancient oak woodland. First 700m wide path provides access to shallows...

Bodmin, 5km

Wooded National Trust estate riverside walk. Some sections 1.5’2m deep. Swim against the current. Wooden bankside deckings (for fishing)....

Bodmin, 5km

Still in the Lanhydrock Estate, this swim is off the original driveway to the main house from behind the...

Ashburton A38, 5km

Peaty water, clean from the mountain, this is the most popular and accessible Dart swimming location, especially in summer....

Holne, 0.5km

Small Waterfall or Gorge with sunbathing rock and large pool in secluded Holne Woods, close to Holne and its...

Tintagel, 2km

A tall, slender Waterfall or Gorge at the head of a wild woody dingle. It falls into a high...

Bolventor, 4km

A huge moorland lake, the highest and largest in Cornwall. Open access on the west side with chalky, shelving...

Port Isaac, 6km

A luscious, chalk-green, spring-fed quarry lake on private land, part of Cornish Tipi Holidays. Wooded cliffs and banks. Very...