Places to Swim

[Wildswimmer]

Please feel free to share details of any hassle-free places to swim: river, lake and especially nice beaches. I'll pass on the details to Rob Fryer for consideration for inclusion in "Cool Places". If possible, please award the swim using Digger's "Trunks" rating: 0 trunk = crap, 5 trunks = swimmer heaven. A bit like Michelin stars but wet. If you'd like a copy of the real "Rob's Directory of Cool Places" email Rob at wildswim@talk21.com

Wildswimming Google Map highlighting swimming spots throughout UK and Ireland

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=...,20.566406&z=6

Sea, River and Lake

Hatchmere Lake, Delamere Forest, Cheshire. (5 trunks)

The campaign to reclaim this water for swimming led to the formation of the River and Lake Swimming Association.
www.hatchmere.com

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River Dee, Chester. (5 trunks)

Find your way to The Meadows, a large public open space in the City centre, and pick your spot. The Dee has statutory navigation rights so no-one can stop you from swimming. Despite the large number of boats everyone rubs along with everyone else - just be courteous and considerate. Watch out for the big river cruise boats - just wave to the skippers so they know you are there. You'll almost certainly get a cheery wave back. And comments from the passengers along the lines of "you lucky *****, wish I was with you"! The water is clean - Chester's drinking water is abstracted from the river a couple of miles upstream. During high tides muddy water backs up from the estuary, but it's still clean if slightly salty. The Meadows is the favourite spot for local swimmers. Nearby is Eccleston village - a definite 5 trunk swim:

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Pickmere, Cheshire (4 trunks)

A large freshwater mere near Great Budworth, Cheshire. Pickmere is registered as Common Land so you can swim in it. There is a prominent "No Swimming" notice but RALSA challenged the local parish council about it, and they admitted they cannot enforce any swimming ban. Pickmere used to be a popular family destination with an amusement park. However this has been replaced by the inevitable ugly, walled yuppie warren. When said eyesore was built, some the sandstone blocks from the original buildings were just dumped in the lake so watch out for them. There is a very nice sandy beach, big picnic area, and the water is clean. Only thing to watch out for is that it suddenly deepens about 50 yards from the shore.

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Lidos

Stonehaven Heated Seawater Pool

Swim in North Sea water on the bracing Scottish coast, only heated to tropical warmth!

http://www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/Pool-Intro.htm

Nantwich Open Air Brine Pool

One of the two remaining inland brine pools left in the country. Run by Crewe-Nantwich Council who regard it as a jewel in their crown.

http://www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/lei...door_pool.aspx

Droitwich Lido

The other inland brine pool, newly refurbished.

http://www.droitwichsaltlido.info/

Hampton Pool, London

Want to swim in Caribbean-warm water under English skies? 365 days of the year? Try here:

http://www.hamptonpool.co.uk/

[RichC]

Hi - I am a new comer to this forum - does anyone have any suggestions for open water swimming in the W Mids/Staffs area?

cheers

[Wildswimmer]

Originally Posted by RichC

Hi - I am a new comer to this forum - does anyone have any suggestions for open water swimming in the W Mids/Staffs area?

cheers

Hi Rich C, and welcome to the forums - especially to the Nutters' Forum as this particular one is usually known.

Just looking through my copy of "Cool Places" for Staffs:

River Dove near Uttoxeter.
River Trent at Great Heywood, 5m east of Stafford off A51
River Trent at Mavesyn Bridge, Armitage, 3m west of Rugely down A513.
Grid Ref: SK078165

Wildswimmer Pete

[Bowks]

I seem to be from the same area as Rich C - thanks for the proposed swim sites

Any idea if we'd get arrested for swimming there???

time for a sharp exit maybe

[Wildswimmer]

Originally Posted by Bowks

I seem to be from the same area as Rich C - thanks for the proposed swim sites

Any idea if we'd get arrested for swimming there???

time for a sharp exit maybe

Hi Bowks, and welcome to the forums.

No, you can't get arrested for outdoor swimming, although the likes of RoSPA would dearly love open water swimming to be an arrestable offence.

Take a look here:

http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/legal.htm

http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/trespass.htm

In a nutshell, should the water have statutory navigation rights, you can swim in it. In law a swimmer is a "vessel" and is deemed to be navigating - and would be expected to adhere to the rules and courtesies of navigation when sharing the water with other users.

And should push come to shove, should anyone demand your details, just don't tell them.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Bowks]

Thanks Pete

Am off to try a venue tonight

Bowks

[Safeway]

I know of a few places to swim in the Yorkshire dales. Semerwater, parts of the ure river and the upper parts of the river wharf. Does anyone know of any in the Dark Peak or West Yorkshire.

[Safeway]

I know of a few places but need help to find more local areas

[Wildswimmer]

Hi Safeway, and welcome to the forum.

I'll have to dig out my copy of "Cool Places" and look for some places near you.

Are you far from Otley? Take a look at the "Putting RoSPA in its place" thread to read about the insane proposal to fence off the Wharfe in their river park.

Wildswimmer Pete

[downsman]

I'm new to this and live near Chichester in West Sussex. I know the good sea places for a dip and we have a cracking lido in Arundel but does anyone know of any rivers or lakes I can sample? Thanks - and if you're in the area and need any advice on sea swims or Arundel Lido drop me a line. I work in Woking in Surry so anything between the coast and Guildford/Woking would be interesting.

Also enjoy off road running and biking and would be happy to give advice.

[happySwimmer]

I've been swimming (perhaps better described as getting wet) in Colwick Park in Nottingham this week. I've entered the race that is going to be held there later this month, so I thought I ought to test it out first.

Marian

[Brick]

Originally Posted by happySwimmer

I've been swimming (perhaps better described as getting wet) in Colwick Park in Nottingham this week. I've entered the race that is going to be held there later this month, so I thought I ought to test it out first.

Can you please tell us more about Colwick Park. I notice that there are some lifeguards: http://www.colwickparklifeguards.com/, but they seem "organised" and for "events".

This web page mentions a whole lot of watersports, but no mention of swimming.

http://www.collegest.org.uk/SHOE/ColwickPark.htm

Can people just turn up and swim, or do they get kicked out? Are there many people swimming there on weekends?

[happySwimmer]

Originally Posted by Brick

Can you please tell us more about Colwick Park.

Yes - to the best of my knowledge Colwick Park Long Distance Swimming Club is an ASA registered club. Each year it holds an event at Colwick Park, which is swum under BLDSA rules. The details are on the BLDSA website http://www.bldsa.org.uk/ under 2007 calendar. The closing date is 12 May so still time to enter if you are interested.

As far as the park itself is concerned when you get there a sign says that you must only swim in the designated swimming area (which I understand is the west lake).

Marian

[Brick]

Designated Swimming Area

Oh Happy Day

Wait a second, how big is this designated swimming area? I once had a similar rush of optimism when I saw that there where photos of people in Bosworth Water. But then I noticed how big the roped off area was. See photo, and note how close the rope is to the shore.

Edit: Sorry, massive photo. I've put in a link.

http://www.bosworthwatertrust.co.uk/...s/dscf0902.jpg

I've just reread your posting. You say that the designated swimming area "is the west lake." Not "is in the west lake." Sorry to be annoying, but could you clarify this?

Thanks.

Edit 2: I'm not yet strong enough a swimmer to enter a 1km race. But if my perception of my progress as of last night's Leicester Triathlon Club training session is accurate, I'd be disappointed if I couldn't do the 1km novice race by next year.

[Brick]

Well, in theory I'm off to Colwick Park to have a look around today. I will take speedos and goggles just in case, but will see what the situation is like when I get there. If it's cold I might take a micro-dip, but I don't plan to swim in cold water if I find the place deserted.