British Travel Journal | Summer 2020

“There is a physiological response
in the body when we’re near water
because life evolved from the water.
You are in something much bigger than
yourself and it can be dangerous, calm,
frightening or relaxing. It’s a massive
natural force that leaves you in awe
and puts everything in perspective,
resetting your mind and boosting your
confidence.” Lauren reveals that as
well as the benefits of wild swimming
for wellbeing and mental health, there
are also large swathes of research
on its physical benefits. “Aside from
being an excellent form of physical
exercise, increasing overall strength and
fitness, studies show that it also boosts
metabolism, immunity, resilience and
your rate of healing”.
For those wishing to embark upon
their own wild swimming experience,
it’s as simple as doing a little research
into your local area and heading there
with a towel. Things to be aware of
are ensuring that water is clean and
unpolluted, that there are shallow entry
points and that you know how you are
going to get out. Ensure that you don’t
jump into water without knowing it is
deep enough and that for areas which
have a current, you can swim against
the current faster than it can take you.
It’s advisable to go with someone else
to spots you are visiting for the first time,
but wild swimming is open to people of
all abilities. This means there should be
nothing holding you back from enjoying
the relaxing sense of weightlessness and
invigorating experience of immersing
yourself in nature.
With thousands of miles of coastline and
a vast network of rivers and estuaries we are
spoilt for choice with waterside locations in
Britain. We’ve decided to pick out some of
our favourites for you to explore:
Cornwall - The Salt Sisterhood, Helford
Located on the banks of the Helford River,
the Salt Sisterhood offers five-day wild
swimming and yoga retreats for women.
Here, they take a step away from the real
world, immersing themselves in a bubble
of self-care, nature and good food. The
aim is for connection: to nature, other
women and themselves. Retreats take
place in June and September each year.
Scotland - Dores Beach, Loch Ness,
Inverness
Sitting on the east side of Loch Ness, one
of Britain’s largest lakes, Dores Beach is
a popular spot for wild swimming and a
great place to start for beginners. With
shallow entry points and a wild swimming
group meeting here every Saturday at
10am you can swim with confidence all
whilst being encouraged by locals. The
waters are cold but calm and the scenery is
second to none. With awe-inspiring views
of the Scottish Highlands and little signs
of civilisation, swimming at Dores you find
yourself in a cocoon of nature.
Wales - Llyn y Fan Fach, Brecon Beacons
A high lake in the shadow of the Black
Mountain, Llyn y Fan Fach sits in a sheltered
bowl with stony, gently shelving sides.
Reaching up to 18 meters in depth, it’s the
perfect spot for diving and practicing your
underwater swimming technique. Located
in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Llyn
y Fan Fach is breathtakingly beautiful and
according to legend, the home of a lake
nymph.
Northern Ireland - Cushendun Beach,
County Antrim
Found in the heart of the Glens of Antrim
and not far from the Red Caves where
several Game of Thrones scenes were
filmed, Cushendun is a sandy, rural beach
with views across to the Mull of Kintyre. The
beach slopes gently out to sea, with rivers at
both ends so that you can explore the kelp
fronds. The water here is crystal clear as
long as you don’t visit shortly after rainfall
when peat is carried down from the fields.
London - Beckenham Place Park,
Beckenham
Accessible by tube, Beckenham Place Park’s
nearest stations are Beckenham Junction
(tram), Beckenham Hill and Ravensbourne
(both Thameslink). London’s first
purpose-built swimming lake is available
for swimmers 8 years of age and over.
Surrounded by trees and a grass area to sit
and watch, the sandy banks make for a safe
family fun swim. u
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