During summer it is natural to explore the great outdoors in whatever manner you see fit.
Popular activities include hiking or biking, and we’re also seeing wild swimming as a growing trend among outdoor lovers.
However, wild swimming does involve entering a body of water without guaranteed access to a lifeguard, health and safety signage, or medical assistance, so it’s essential to assess the risks, and prepare to walk away if necessary.
It is possible to safely incorporate wild swimming into outdoor recreation, but there are factors to consider before adding it to your itinerary.
Rock on 🤘
— AllTrails (@AllTrails) August 10, 2024
Don't forget to check reviews before you hit the trails! Sometimes things can get a little rocky 🪨#TrailTalk: Real trail reviews from real #AllTrails users https://t.co/IKnHnGVOrh pic.twitter.com/dX0jsVpY7B
How to stay safe wild swimming:
Plan ahead
Gareth Mills, UK Country Manager at AllTrails, said: "It can be tempting to spontaneously jump in a stream or lake at the end of a walk, but just as with hiking, it’s better to research locations in advance. You may find that enthusiasts share top wild swimming spots on social media, but make sure to also do your own check of what the water and weather conditions will be at the time you plan to dip in.
"If you’re combining the swim with a hike, use AllTrails to preview the hiking route, see trail and weather conditions, and spot a point along the walk where you’ll likely be near a water entry point. Swimming near the end of the walk is typically preferable from a comfort and safety perspective."
Research the water quality
Gareth continued: "Some water can be polluted for various industrial or agricultural reasons. Government officials often share information explaining water quality tests to the public, including what they are testing for and how frequently.
"It’s worth checking the bathing water quality on England’s bathing water quality site, for example. (Links for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are all on the same page.) My primary swimming location is either the Dee Estuary or West Kirby’s Marine Lake. I tend to avoid swimming after heavy rainfall as runoff affects water quality.
"For places where the water isn’t tested, like a mountain stream, it’s worth visually checking the water. Remember to always look upstream to check for any wayward, potentially hazardous materials the current may be sending your way."
Enjoy the benefit with a friend
"Done safely, the benefits of a dip, plunge, or swim can be long-lasting. You could feel more energised immediately, or find yourself more relaxed later in the day," Gareth added.
"It can be so much fun to experience wild swimming with a friend or in a group, especially because you’ll have more support around you. I recommend always going with others. For me, wild swimming is a bonding experience and one of life’s low-cost pleasures."
Prepare some kit
Gareth said: "If you’ve done your research and decided to try a location, pack some essentials before you head out. Consider what you are going to wear on your feet. Getting in and out of a seemingly small plunge pool can be tricky, so you may want to pack water shoes.
"Take some swimming kit, or at least a change of clothes, plus a towel, and hat. You want to have snacks and drinks ready—bonus points for a thermos flask."
Recommended reading:
Pension trick that earns you £665 a year and stops HMRC tax
Gavin and Stacey: James Corden issues important update
The UK's biggest spider that might be lurking in buildings
Assess the area
Gareth added: "Some factors must be considered not only beforehand but also once you’ve reached the site. How deep is the water? How fast is the flow or current? Is it tidal? How do you safely get in and out? The best guidance is to enter any water slowly and carefully the first time.
"And remember: all water courses can change dramatically; just because you went there three months ago doesn’t mean you have a grasp on the latest conditions."
Visit AllTrails for more information.
Keep warm
"Even on the hottest of days, some of our waters can be seriously cold. Get out before it hurts, and have your towel or dry robe ready, plus your dry clothes.
"Remember: getting dry and clothed is the priority. Move your body once dressed (dancing helps) and consider a hot drink and a hat."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here