October 2026

October 2026 - Extreme Environments

When swimming erases memory

Dr Mark Christie reports on the strange phenomenon of Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) in open water swimmers
Why we plunge: Chris Ballard explores the pull of cold water swimming

Lifelong athlete and award-winning writer Chris Ballard immersed himself in the world of cold water for his new book, The…
Open water, extreme in all ways

Open water can look calm and inviting, but beneath the surface, conditions can change in an instant. Sophie Etheridge reflects…
From surf to swim: the story behind NewFlow

NewFlow began to tackle surfer’s salty skin and pesky sand but now is taking off as a way to help…
Extraordinary seaweeds

Seaweeds are beautiful, resilient and vital to our survival. In an extract from Extraordinary Seaweeds, Professor Juliet Brodie explores their…
Riding the Tide: Swim London’s Speedy 10K

A strong current turns Swim London’s 10km down the tidal Thames into a surprisingly speedy adventure. Simon Griffiths gave it…
Swimming the Hellespont: navigating the current from Europe to Asia

Swimming the Hellespont is unlike any other open-water event, with a fast-moving current, tricky navigation and 1,500 swimmers crossing the…
Can citizen science help bring our rivers back from the brink?

Back from the brink: The Rivers Trust explains why we need better data to tackle extreme river environments
New seaweed map

A new interactive map is turning thousands of citizen-recorded seaweed sightings into a picture of how climate change is reshaping…
Spellbinding Sweden

Reindeer, dancing colours in the sky, woodsmoke and hooning about on snowmobiles in swimsuits, Ella Foote is captivated by winter…
Weekend swim retreat: The Smuggler’s Rest, North Devon

North Devon might be famous for surfing, but its rugged coastline hides a wealth of coves, channels and wild swimming…
Windermere hosts UK’s biggest gathering of outdoor swimming researchers

From jellyfish to sewage, Windermere played host to the year’s sharpest thinking on the water we swim in
Two swimmers, one memorable weekend

This year Jharna Kumawat set out to swim the length of Lake Annecy in the French Alps, it didn’t always…
How to choose a changing robe

We asked the experts at Dryrobe® what to look for in a changing robe. Plus, our experts review the latest…
Take our quiz: what tow float should I get?

Do you prefer a point-to-point swim, a dip and a chat or the latest piece of kit? Take our quiz…
Beat the training blues

As autumn draws us indoors and summer motivation fades, it’s tempting to put training on the back burner. Discover how…
Seek seasonal ritual

As the days grow shorter and winter closes in, could a simple swimming ritual help us embrace the season rather…
Train for the extreme: how the pool can prepare you for your toughest open-water swims

Built in the pool, proven in the wild: How to use the swimming pool to prepare for extreme outdoor swimming.
How to prepare for an extreme open water swim

As open water swimmers, we love to push our boundaries says Alice Dearing
A new chapter for HOWL The Haven

After 18 months of preparation and support from NOWCA, The Haven in Feltham has reopened its doors, bringing a much-loved…
Trunks vs jammers

A body hugging streamlined fit or more modest comfort beside the pool – a round up of the latest men’s…
Hot stuff: the other extreme

Ella Foote talks to experts and swimmers about why swimming in heat deserves the same respect as swimming in ice
Powered by why

Neil Gilson tells Rowan Clarke how his reason for swimming Switzerland’s 10 largest lakes made it possible
The new extreme

Cold-water swimming may have gone mainstream, but it remains an extreme activity - one that reveals the limits of human…
You don’t need to travel to find extreme environments, says Simon Griffiths

Winter swimming may feel familiar, accessible and fun, but cold water is an extreme environment wherever you encounter it. Simon…