Ditch the heaving coastlines and forget the public pools with their verucca socks and fools. This summer it’s all about heading inland to swim amongst a freshwater paradise of rivers, lakes and waterfalls

Words and photos by Daniel Start

When summer sticks to the script and delivers some serious heat our natural instincts, like those of the hippo, are to find water to frolic about in. In the halcyon days of youth dancing round a garden sprinkler would do, but nowadays we demand a little more. And if you don’t fancy a crowded coastal spot with the bucket and spade brigade or a hectic public pool (where it’s worth noting ducking, bombing and heavy petting is still banned) get yourself inland. There’s a whole world of wild swimming opportunities in rivers, lake and waterfalls, most of which are in the most wondrous and Eden-esque locations, with not a Mr.Whippy van in sight.

Get going

Before you dive in, Daniel Start, author of Wild Swimming, which gives you the skinny on 150 hidden dips in the rivers, lakes and waterfalls of Britain, has this sage advice:

Stay warm

Going swimming when it’s scorchio is the best, but you can also have a lot of fun on rainy or cooler days as long as you get a get a good steam up on the walk there. Once in the water if it feels a bit parky persevere for a few minutes and soon enough the cold feeling will go away. The more you swim in cold water the more used to it you get and the healthier you’ll become apparently too. When you get out don some warm clothes and do some 80s-style star jumps to keep warm.

Be prepared

Exploration of your chosen swimming site is key, so take a pair of goggles and pair of old sneaks or jelly shoes, if you want your feet to stay on trend even at the bottom of a river bed. That way you can clamber about rocks, without hurting yourself. Your surf wetsuit will help you stay warm for longer and midge repellant will be a god send if you’re there when the sun goes down. Sun protection for the daytime is essential too.

Keep it safe

Don’t swim in canals, urban rivers or stagnant lakes, as they’ll be minging. Avoid reedy shallows as your feet can get caught up, and lakes with blue/green algae scum. As with being in the mountains or the sea, never swim alone, and keep an eye on any weak swimmers in your party. Cover up any cuts or wounds you may have, and don’t create more by jumping in before having checked for depth and obstructions.

Know your currents

Aside from being a good metaphor for life, swimming against the current is a lot of fun, but you want to avoid be taken downstream by a current in an uncontrolled manner. Always keep in mind: if I lose my footing or get swept downstream where will I get out. Follow the stewardess mantra and check out your emergency exits before you get in, plus scout for any downstream hazards such as obstructions, waterfalls or weirs. Remember the more shallow the water the faster it will travel, as in ‘still waters run deep’.

10 of the best secret dips IN THE UK

(and more Wild Swimming destinations in the rest of Europe!)

To find: Either use the postcode if you have satnav or type the grid reference into multimap.com. Maps to each location can be found at wildswimming.com

Skinny-Dipping

Wellsfoot Island
Ashburton, 14km from Totnes, South West England
Postcode: TQ13 7NX
Grid ref: SX 705702
Wonderful wooded island with velvet sand and deep water under a cliff.

Boozing

Rockford Pools
Lynmouth, 28km from Barnstaple, South West England
Postcode: EX35 6PT
Grid ref: SS 753482
Quality pub and series of shady, dark pools with low rock cliffs to jump from, therockfordinn.com

Jumping

Blue Lagoon, Moel-y-Faen
Llangollen, 15km from Ruabon, Snowdonia, Wales
Postcode: LL20 8DR
Grid ref: SJ 185477
Very deep, totally clear azure blue lake at the bottom of a quarry crater.

Bike Riding

Great Torrington
10km from Umberleigh, North Devon
Postcode: SS 582261
Grid ref: EX37 9EB
Fast-flowing and pebbly stream, running by a woodland bike trail

Tubing

Sheriff Muir Paradise Pools
7km from Dunblane, Scotland
Postcode: FK15 0LN
Grid ref: NN 819011
Perfect plunge pool with a cool rock slide, and more pools and cascades in the woods above.

Camping

Appletreewick, Lake District
12km from Skipton
Postcode: BD23 6DD
Grid ref: SE 053597
Grassy banks, a pretty rock pool with a small island, and a bay and rapids upstream, plus a killer rope swing.

Waterfalls

Horseshoe Falls
Pontneddfechan, 12km from Aberdare, Wales
Postcode: SA115UR
Grid ref: SN 903097
Awesome set of deep forest plunge pools beneath a horseshoe-shaped waterfall.

Paddling

Frensham Great Pond
7km from Farnham, South England
Postcode: GU10 3DS
Grid ref: SU 846405
Huge sandy lake with shelf for paddling, surrounded by forest and open heathland.

Book-Lovers

Port Meadow, Thames
6km from Oxford, South England
Postcode: OX2 8PU
Grid ref: SP 488094
2km of river with little beaches and grassy expanses of meadow, the setting and inspiration for the opening lines of Alice in Wonderland.

Canoeing

Symonds Yat
Ross-on-Wye, 18km from Hereford, Central England
Postcode: HR9 6QX
Grid ref: SO 588269
Small sandy bay surrounded by meadows, with canoes and boats for hire.