Wild Swim

Product Information

This book focusses on the development of good technique, with the aim of making you swim faster. It’s all about a high-elbow underwater pull, apparently. The same author has also published this book ( USA) of swim workouts. By far and the most popular book on wild swimmer's bookshelves is Waterlog by Roger Deakin. Deakin set out in 1996 to swim through the British Isles. Waterlog is a personal journey, a bold assertion of the native swimmer's right to roam, and an unforgettable celebration of the magic of water.

The ocean comes with its own set of challenges and claims the most lives. Rivers are the next most hazardous. Finally, still bodies of water like lakes and reservoirs are the friendliest of all but you still need to keep your wits about you, especially with cold water. Wild swimming is, in a way, nothing more than swimming in something other than a swimming pool - think lakes, tarns, rivers, estuaries, reservoirs, bays, and even the ocean. And yet, outdoor swimming is so much more than that. Wild water swimming, as it's sometimes called, is a way to reconnect with nature, those around you, family and friends, and at a deeper level, it reminds us what it is to be human, free to move and explore nature. The resulting journey became the subject of Roger Deakin’s first book, Waterlog: A Swimmer’s Journey Through Britain, which is now being published stateside for the first time. In the U.K., Waterlog’s publication galvanized a movement. According to Sport England, a national organization that promotes physical exercise, some half a million people in England were regularly taking dips in frigid lakes and streams as of 2020. Wild swimming is so popular that it has sprouted its own industry. Bookstores abound with “swimmoirs” by devotees who claim that the practice does wonders for their health. Today, you can take guided swim tours across the country or even rent out Deakin’s Suffolk home and swim in his moat, an experience the New Yorker writer Rebecca Mead described last year as “starkly beautiful.” What's the difference between wild swimming, outdoor swimming, open water swimming, wild water swimming, and freshwater swimming?Artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon brings together her passion for images and swimming in this delightful book. Whimsical at times, very beautiful and often uplifting, it’s a homage to the joy of immersion in water and to the creative work it has inspired. The wild swimming movement is a little different here in America, where lots of people enjoy the rivers and lakes of this big crazy country. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, the hearty UK swimmer would feel right at home. Our waters are cold and the beer is bold. Snorkeling rivers is just wild swimming while looking down. Take a look, you may be surprised what lives in your favorite swimming hole! Reply

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 gives us the right to access certain areas of land. This is commonly referred to as the Right to Roam or Freedom to Roam. It grants us permission to parts of the country without having to use paths. That being said, part of the thrill of swimming outdoors is the rush from the cold water. There is something freeing and natural about going skins, but just do whatever you feel comfortable with. This is basically gold dust for the budding adventurer. Of course, this doesn't mean that you can just do whatever you want and venture anywhere but it does open up a whole world of responsible adventure.So in short, don't swim too close to peoples property, be discrete and respectful, play nice with anglers, and remember that you're unlikely to have any problems in most places. The more remote the less chance of running into difficulty but don't let that stop you. Due to our history, our land was carved up and every bit of it was assigned an owner. However, we are now able to access even some private land including “mountains, moors, heaths and downs”. Arrive hot, like steaming hot. Wear a boatload of clothes and walk briskly to your chosen spot. Uphill jogs and star jumps work wonders Those jammy dodgers up in Scotland have gone one better with the Outdoor Access Code promoting even more freedom to explore wild places. For wild swimming, it recommends minimising problems by:

Well, your gramps just called it ‘swimming', but everything sounds better with ‘wild' in front of it. It's not just camping, it's wild camping. It's not just tiddlywinks...it's wild tiddlywinks...see, works like a charm.

Whilst I've done loads of wild swimming, even I was caught out recently, not a million miles from hypothermia. And that was in the summer in the French Pyrenees. It was 30 degrees out (air temp) and glorious. The locals wearing shorts and bikinis convinced me that it must be warm out. Perfect time for a swim. Look at me...lapping it up like an overexcited Labrador. This illustrated book about the social history of swimming was given a great review here. I’m looking forward to getting hold of a copy. Firmly placed in the genre of swimming against adversity, this book tells how swimming off the coast of Ireland helped Ruth Fitzmaurice deal with the illness of her husband, who had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Together with fellow “Tragic Wives,” she swims all year, using the waves and the cold to combat her trauma. Go to Germany, Scandinavia, Holland, or pretty much anywhere other than Anglo countries and you'll find being naked is much less of ‘a thing'. Most saunas and many pools forbid any form of clothing and nobody thinks twice about it. In very recent times though we have seen some waters deteriorating though. The downsizing of the EA is also a concern. There's lots of work to be done here. We will be elaborating on this in a series of dedicated articles. Take a look at Save Our Rivers and The Rivers Trust to learn more.