Open Water Swimming

The popularity of wild swimming, cold water swimming or open water swimming has gone through the roof in recent years. But not everyone has taken the plunge. Some want to, but haven’t quite gotten over those last few jitters for one reason or another. No judgment. It isn’t for everyone, and even those who love it balk at doing it when it’s cold, or in winter, or in the dark, or…or…or…

But if you do want to, but you just want a little push here are a couple of places you can look while you’re in the lakes…

Swim on the Wild Side

They and introduction to open water swimming, guided swim tours, a dawn chorus and a full moon swim, beach barbecue swims, and more. Check out their website for more info.

https://swimwildside.com/

Suzanna Swims

Suzanna offers guided wild swimming adventure for groups and individuals, whether you’re looking to dip a toe in a tarn, float down a river or swim across a lake. Suzanna will show you the Lake District from a whole new perspective.

https://www.suzannaswims.co.uk/

Having said that, if you do want to strike out on your own there are lots of swimming spots in the Lake District so take your picnic and spend the day playing in the water. Here are some of our favourites...

Swim the Tarns

There are over 200 tarns in the Lake District providing lots of opportunity for wild or outdoor swimming. Most tarns are high up the mountains so require a long walk to access.

Hidden Dips

Wild swimming is one of the latest outdoor crazes to sweep the UK, but here in the Lake District, we’ve been swimming in lakes, tarns, pools, kails and pots for years.

Crummock Water Wild Swim

Located next to Butteremere this is a great swimming lake and can be very quite. Entry spots are limited and you usually need a little walk to access the lake with a few exceptions.

Buttermere Wild Swim

Butteremere is a popular wild swimming spot; it is a lovely lake in a beautiful valley with little or no boats to worry the swimmer.

Bassenthwaite Lake

As a quieter lake Bassenthwaite is a great wild swim spot. There are many places to enter the lake and options of long, short, or medium swims.

Drewent Water Wild Swimming

Derwent Water offers a lot of access points for Wild Swimming. With a footpath around a lot of the lake you can pretty take your pick.

Borrowdale Fairy Pools

People have started referring to this spot as the Borrowdale Fairy pools. I think it’s to liken it to the very well known Skye version. Having visited both they’re not dissimilar, but the Borrowdale version is definitely a lot smaller...and warmer!

Banished Quarry

A recent find for us but its an amazing spot – this is for the more adventurous and the stronger swimmers as quarries are deep and cold so do be aware of this.