FEATURES
In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.
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Winter joy! Your icy swimming pics
Winter sunsets, bobble hats and that bright red post-swim glow - thank you for sharing your winter swimming photos with…
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Freezin’ for a reason every season
Proud stepdad Duncan Baird wonders if his daughter Grace is part mermaid, not just because of the way she glides…
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A democratic activity
When Jharna Kumawat first started outdoor swimming, she didn’t realise access to safe water was such a huge issue but…
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Get faster, slowly
How to make progress in swimming through patience and finding joy in the process
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Flying south to swim
In search of warmer waters, Ben Lane booked a trip to Lanzarote and discovered a treasure trove of stunning coastlines…
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Is teaching swimming one of the happiest jobs in the UK?
Swimming teachers across England have every reason to smile this soggy January according to a new survey by the Institute…
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“What keeps me coming back? Being treated like a queen”
A nurturing yoga and wild swimming retreat, Zest Life is perfectly placed for the recent rise in female solo travelers,…
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A vision for tidal Thames swimming
Could a revived historic swim become a new flagship event for London?
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Boost your strength and mobility for better movement
Make 2026 the year you move better – understanding the link between strength and mobility, says personal trainer Liz Lowe
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Sustainable fitness for 2026
When fitness becomes part of your life rather than something extra you have to “fit in,” you are far more…
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Use the pool to transform your technique
Swim coach Nicola Butler explains how using pool features, from the lane ropes to pool markings, can improve your swim…
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Build your resilience over winter
In her first coaching feature for Outdoor Swimmer, Olympian Alice Dearing explains how resilience in winter is worth it when…
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Weekend swim retreat: Rothay Manor, Ambleside
Ella Foote heads to the Lake District for a weekend swim break just a short distance from Windermere and central…
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Dip for a difference
Join Sub10 Club or Wild Sub10 Club this winter and turn your cold water swims into lasting impact - help…
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Wading in for civil rights
Black swimmers went to the beach to protest racial segregation in 1950s and early ’60s America
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In hot water: swimming and climate change
Through her research, Abi Lafbery has discovered that outdoor swimmers have an immersive knowledge about the water and environments they…
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SwimSafe: creating confidence in open water
Vivienne Rickman has been working with the SwimSafe team in North Wales and shares how programs like this help children…
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New cold-water competition at Brockwell Lido
Brockwell FreezeFest, the first-ever cold-water swimming championship at Brockwell Lido in London takes place on Saturday 24 January 2026
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How to age well: supporting joint health through swimming
Having healthy joints is key to aging well. We reveal how swimming provides a low-impact way to support joint health…
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Introducing our new expert contributor Alice Dearing
We’re delighted to welcome Alice Dearing, British marathon swimmer and Olympian, as our new challenge and endurance swim guide
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Child’s play
Watch out for the new generation of outdoor swimming stars, says Rowan Clarke
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Law, access and our relationship with water
Ella Foote talks with academic Cristy Clark about her new book, Legal Geographies of Water, and why our relationship with…
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Our right to swim
What does having a right to swim really mean? Rowan Clarke investigates
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You may have more swim freedom than you think
Despite having a glorious swimming resource on his doorstep, it didn’t occur to Simon to use it
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Education, not exclusion
Venues offer safety, community and inclusivity, which make them invaluable, says adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge
