your best wild swims - UK(public transport details appreciated)

[Miss-Shelf]

I have had a few swims this year outdoors:

Frensham Great Ponds - walked along a bit away from the 'beach' and found a quiet spot for anglers and no swimmers - the lookout boat did eventually come over to advise us that there was weeds and deep water and?
a good spot for guaranteed swimming and warms up quickly - walk or bus from Farnham station

River Stour - the suffolk/essex one - bit weedy, bit shallow and a few territorial swans - that was a quick swim - a few good entry spots along this river near deadham - walk or taxi from manningtree station

the silent pond - surrey - despite a poor press from some urbans it was ace if freezing - it was a cold wet day- the water was really clear and weed free at the edges - a quick dip unless you're brave about swimming right through much weed - also even on a cold wet day a few people walked through the area - probably packed on a hot day
walk or bus from Gomshall station

 

[Biddlybee]

You swam in the silent pond?

Don't think I've had any wild swims since I went to Canada - lots of nice lakes round that way

 

[Miss-Shelf]

the little pond - it was really nice and clear to swim up and down near the edge - is there something I don't know? is is poisoned?

 

[Miss-Shelf]

any good spots in the upper thames?

 

[Biddlybee]

is there something I don't know? is is poisoned?

Nah, just always looked a bit skanky when I've seen it - not been there for about 15 years though

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Nah, just always looked a bit skanky when I've seen it - not been there for about 15 years though

It's was really very clean and clear - I was surprised, and even up where it was very weedy it was clean.

The other pool nearby was less inviting.

 

[fredfelt]

any good spots in the upper thames?

There is a stream between Tackley and Nethercot near Kirtlington and Kirtlington Quarry. Just off the River Cherwell and around 14 miles north of Oxford on the canal - not far from Pigeon Lock.

There is some kind of mill pond where locals and one or two others who know it go for an outdoor swim. An attraction is a the fast flowing stream under a foot bridge. You can push yourself through like a log flume, or just jump in from the bridge. - there is a train station very close.

Other than that on hot evenings I've been for a few swims in the Thames at Port Meadow - very close to the centre of Oxford.

Also in Oxford is 'tumbling bay' used to be a river swimming pool, now in a state of disrepair but just about ok for an outdoor swim (it's not as nice as it sounds) - you can use it like a treadmill as there is a little water fall going in at one end.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

The Thames at Penton Hook Island opposite Thorpe Park, or a little bit upstream at Silver Sands. Both have nice beaches, river muscles to be found at Silver Sands. Nearest train station is Staines, 20 minute walk from there.

 

[toblerone3]

any good spots in the upper thames?

I'm not sure about spots but a friend of mine swam about ten miles in the Upper Thames. I've noticed that your a keen Wild Swimmer.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

more of a wild dipper
get in
go oooooooo ooooo oooooo for a bit
and get out
feeling cold and happy!

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

What a great term: wild swim.

We swim in the ocean at Third Beach, I don't know if that qualifies as a wild swim. It's not in a pool, but it's a city beach.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

wild swim has been coined in the last few years to describe something that people have been doing forever

its a bit like cool camping

although it means that there is more information about on the internet about good places to swim

 

[Gavin Bl]

There's no public transport up there, but some nice plunge pools in the head waters of the Taff just south of the Neuadd Reservoir and Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.

I think there is a bus up to the Storey Arms from Cardiff, which would allow a direct ascent up Pen Y Fan, and walk down to the res and the river, but you would have to go back over the ridge again to bus back.

 

[lighterthief]

Did a lovely swim last weekend from Topsham across the Exe estuary to the Turf Pub, absolutely beautiful. Semi-organised, but we dawdled at the back and had a lovely time.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

that sounds lighterthief

I'm not a greatly strong swimmer and I worry about swimming across an estuary - maybe I need to go with a swim group...

my mum and dad are in Jersey at the moment texting me with all the swims they're getting - grrrr

 

[Gavin Bl]

I've also seen people swimming in the River Ouse between Lewes and Newhaven, in East Sussex - train stations all the way - Lewes, Southease, but would prob get out before Newhaven Port itself!