Thinking about something new and exciting to do when the weather gets warmer I came up with the idea of wild Swimming in remote places. I used to be very keen on going to my local pool but since lockdown and social distancing this has not been possible. Neither do I think it will be a safe recreational activity for quite sometime, even if the pools are open. So, having just watched a programme on wild swimming I'm wondering if any members have tried it, particularly if they live in the UK.
Yes, but I didn’t think of it as anything special. I just call it fresh water swimming. I used to do it all the time when I had a car and lived in a more rural area.
I’m allergic to chlorine. I much prefer lakes and rivers to swimming pools.
Tips:
Do some research on the bodies of water first. See if the lakes/ponds are spring-fed or stream-fed and how deep they are. Spring-fed ones tend to be colder and cleaner.
A lot of shallower ponds in remote locations are not that good for swimming. There’s usually too much vegetation. Look for a depth of more than 6’.
Man-made swim holes such as used stone quarries are popular, but they can be dangerous. Sometimes, there are sharp objects submerged somewhere (discarded machinery). Deaths and injuries from that are not uncommon. Don’t jump or dive in. Swim with caution.
Swim holes in mountain streams are amazing, but they tend to be very cold. This is great because it’s refreshing. Just fyi.
Also! Be aware of any dams. Upstream from a dam, there can be a strong undertoe. It can suck you down and drown you against the dam. A lot of people swim near dams, upstream from them, anyway. But I think it’s a bad idea.