Wild Swimming, our top tips for getting started
It’s that time of year again when the days are getting longer and the British weather starts to warm up (slowly)
It’s the perfect time of year to get outdoors, take a dip, connect to nature and re wild.
So what is wild swimming?
Wild swimming is swimming outdoors in natural body of water, sea, river, lakes, ponds or waterfalls.
What re the benefits?
Not only does wild swimming get you outdoors and reconnecting with nature, it comes with a whole host of wonderful benefits for your health. The cold water reduces sore muscles and reduces inflammation, improves your blood circulation and boosts your immunity. It also releases endorphins and reduces stress. It leaves with feeling refreshed, calm and a generally feeling of wellbeing.
Is it cold?
Cold, refreshing, call it what you will, the human body is a wonderful thing and over time with some gentle encouragement it gets used to the temperature. The trick is to start out gently, over small intervals and slowly build up to longer periods in the water. This builds an increased mental resilience and calmness which filters out from your swim and becomes part of your daily tool kit for whatever life may bring and that is always a positive, it is also very refreshing which is why we keep going back for more.
We always suggest starting out in the summer when the weather and water is warmer. Upon entering the water at first it can be a bit of a shock, but don’t worry you’ve got this, a gentle pause when the water reaches your knees, count to three and then go for it, we promise you won’t regret it.
What to bring
Swimwear
Whatever swimwear you are comfortable in is the best option for you. If we have the spot to ourselves, we have been known to forgoes our swimwear for a full natural experience.
Wetsuit
We are not big fans of wetsuits and prefer to use them for surfing over swimming, they are big and bulky and not fun to get change out of, they are also heavy to carry when wet, which is not ideal for hiking back from a swimming spot.
Tow floats
Tow floats are a great safety addition if you are intending on going for a long swim, they are bright coloured and worn around your waist making you easy to spot in the water.
Water shoes
We were late to the party with the up take on water shoes, but they have been an absolute game change for us when it comes to wild swimming. Not only do they protect our feet from stones and such in the water they also provide extra grip when entering in the water or when finding a nice spot over sometimes slippery rocks.
Woolly hat
This is our most essential item, we never swim without it, if it’s cold we will wear our woolly hat when swimming to keep us warm and stay in longer or to put on as soon as we get out of the water to warm us up. When wild swimming, as you tend to keep your head above water 40 – 45% body heat is lost through the head and that’s something we would rather hold on to.
Towel or dry robe
As most of the spots we go to require hiking to, we opt for micro fibre light weight travel towels as they dry quickly, pack down small, super lightweight and won’t break the bank.
Warm layers
We always opt for easy to change clothes, there is nothing worse than fumbling about on the side of a river trying to get your trousers on. We always bring a fleece, warm socks, light weight puffa jacket.
Flask of warm drink
We always bring a flask of warm tea with us, to sit and enjoy by the water afterwards, warming you from the inside out. Our favourites are yogi tea or ginger tea; good for digestion, anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.
Snack
It has become a bit of a ritual that we bring a snack with us on any wild swim, something to look forward to, to be enjoyed or treated as reward for after our dip.
Staying safe
With any outdoor activity it is important to stay safe, with these helpful tips you can be in the know, be safe and enjoy the wild swim that you deserve.
Pick you swim spot carefully, yes you are excited and yes you want to get in that water as quickly as possible but take a few minutes to check the best route in. Check for any hidden rocks, branches, depth of the water and any swell, fast currents. Avoid jumping in as you don’t know the depth or what is under the surface.
Swim in pairs, yes it can be romantic to go for a wild swim on your own, but we would always recommend swimming with someone else, especially if it’s a new spot or you a new to wild swimming, that way you can relax knowing you are looking out for each other and enjoy the experience. There are many wild swimming meets up and groups out there if you are solo and want to join someone on a swim.
Know your limits and don’t push yourself, like the small changes we implement in our health coaching, slow and steady at the start and build up over time. If you start to shiver, you have pushed yourself too far and will take too long to warm up. We like to start with mini dips in the water. Get out warm up, get back in and so on.
Check the weather, after heavy rainfall rivers and waterfalls will be faster flowing, they might also have more debris in them. If there is a storm due check the tides and swell of the sea, always check first and then you can make a safe decision.
Warm up quickly, This will enable you to avoid any problems during “after drop” the point where your body’s core temperature drops. As mentioned before there are a few items we like to bring to make this as easy as possible this way you are nice and cosy after your swim and can enjoy that post swim glow. Changing quickly, putting on warm clothes and having a hot drink.
Do not swim in stagnant water, if the water is no fresh or flowing avoid and the water might contact pollution or other elements that might make you ill.
Do not swim under the influence of alcohol, yes a drink in the sun of consumed responsibly can be fun, but when it comes to wild swimming it is always best to be present and alert for yourself and for others that you are with.
Now that we have shared our knowledge with you, there is no reason why shouldn’t get outside and treat yourself to that refreshing dip that you deserve.
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You can also connect with us on social media and share your wild swimming adventures with us.
Resources
https://wildthingspublishing.com/
https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/
https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/find-your-wild/experiences/wild-swimming-tips-for-first-timers/
https://www.timeout.com/uk/things-to-do/best-places-for-wild-swimming-in-the-uk
https://theriverstrust.org/enjoy-rivers/wild-swimming