paddle

Ross-on-Wye

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

Bodmin, 5km

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

Bolton Abbey

A popular stretch of river in front of the priory ruins. Upstream of stepping stones and bridge is deeper...

Haltwhistle

2021 update: NATIONAL TRUST have written to say swimming is no longer allowed as this is a ‘very important...

Rydal, Ambleside

A triangular plunge pool in the fells, open with large pebble beach and large rock slabs. Views down to...

Ballater

A gently shelving section of river beach, deepening to 4m, with large flat rocks on the nearside. Elegant white...

Humshaugh

Shallow rapids among ruins of collapsed Roman Bridge. Chance to find Roman remains and examine Roman bathing complex. Deeper...

Didcot

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

Bolventor, 4km

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

Crickhowell

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

Seaford

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

Okehampton, 7km

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

Dedham

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

Thorpe

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

Dulsie

Stunning gorge with rapids above and deep pools, Waterfall or Gorge and sandy cove below.

Eynsford

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

Leominster

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

Ruswarp

A tall plume and small deep plunge pool (10m high, 2m deep) at the head of a forested gorge....

Farnham

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

Great Torrington

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

Hatchmere

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

Garsdale Head

A deep gorge with impressive rock sculptures, shallow stream, small Waterfall or Gorge and midway plunge pool. Dangerous in...

Glencoe

A dramatic glen with perfect river pools running very close to road. Good pub nearby in the grandeur of...

Marlow

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

Ludlow

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

Ingram

A ‘bottomless’ plunge pot, about 5m wide and circular, beneath a tall spout in a pretty glade that is...

Braemar

A dramatic gorge cutting down under an elegant Victorian bridge to deep pools and river beaches in open woodland.

Harlech

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

Twynllanan

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

Aviemore

A small, romantic loch at the foot of the Cairngorms, with a tiny ruined castle on an island set...

Skelwith Bridge

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

Burnsall

A fantastic stretch of grassy riverside incorporating the limestone cliffs and plunge pool of Loup Scar and the shallower,...

Glencoe

A long river canyon with high cliffs and deep water. Popular for wild camping. As for Higher Glen Etive...

Hereford

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

Leek

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

Witney

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

Wasdale Head

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

Wimborne Minster

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

Builth Wells

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

Oxford

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

Relugas

Stunning wooded gorge on mythical River Findhorn, descending to rocky headlands with access to river beaches and very large...

Bodmin, 5km

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

Thetford

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

Pontneddfechan

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

Withypool, 7km

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

Ashburton A38, 5km

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

Tintagel, 2km

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

Stainforth

A series of river pools and falls set beneath an old packhorse bridge. Grassy banks and good paddling. A...

Woodstock

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

Laggan

A large calm pool beneath Waterfall or Gorge on River Pattack in Strathmashie community forest next to car park....

Ross-on-Wye

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

Salisbury

Small, secret pool under hatches, public right of way, but on wellmaintained fishing beat so don’t swim if fishermen...

Hay-on-Wye

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

Flash

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

Farnham

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

Boot

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

Ulpha

A popular area of grassy riverside with 300m stretch of pool and shallows, deep section under bridge from which...

Keld

A wide Waterfall or Gorge, about 3m high, with pleasant plunge pool and open aspect. Limestone cliffs in valley...

Bath

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

Llanwrtyd Wells

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

Ashburton, 5km

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