FEATURES
In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.
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How to tailor your own swim training plan
Why do swimmers train in different ways, and what’s the best way for you to train?
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January in the swim community
NOWCA reminds winter dippers to swim safely with the help of their handy app, and Mental Health Swims is on…
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Your icy swims: a wintry weekend across Britain
Anyone else missing the icy temperatures we had last weekend? We loved seeing your photos from across the UK, braving…
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“Sufficiently cold and treacherous for her purposes”
Myrtle Huddleston’s Lake Tahoe crossing tested her mettle and her ability to adapt to challenges on the fly.
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Why I swim: Polly Atkin
Polly Atkin can’t get enough sunlight, which is why outdoor swimming is ideal. Here she shares how the outdoor world…
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Swim on in 2025
What has 2025 got in store for outdoor swimming? Rowan Clarke finds out.
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Looking back on 2024: an incredible year of swimming
Looking back over 2024, we asked outdoor swimmers to share their highlights. What were yours? Rowan Clarke reflects on an…
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Pools in peril
Simon Griffiths looks at why pools are in peril and what the consequences might be.
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New year, new plans for Sophie Etheridge
Adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge reflects on 2024 and reveals her exciting plans for the year ahead, including her first ever…
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Swim walks in Pembrokeshire
Endurance swimmer Rowan Clarke tells us why this area of South Wales is her little piece of heaven for going…
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Cove hopping in Devon
Endurance swimmer Rowan Clarke shares one of her favourite activities she like to do when exploring the Devon coast
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Our New Year swimming intentions
Mastering all four main swimming strokes, improving catch and pull, and practising underwater dolphin kick: the Outdoor Swimmer team share…
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Take part in our Outdoor Swimming Survey 2024
How do you swim? Where? Who with? To build a picture of Outdoor Swimming in 2024, we're asking swimmers everywhere…
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Can we make London’s rivers swimmable?
The London Assembly Environment Committee is investigating the question of how to make London's rivers swimmable through a series of…
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“Wool socks, onesie, tea!”: What are your winter swimming rituals?
From star jumps to car saunas, the winter swimming community has a variety of ingenious ways to warm up after…
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The Festive Dip List 2024
What better way to clear your head after Christmas than to run full pelt into the sea? Plan your swim…
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Winter swimming: how to make the most of cold dips and hot saunas
How does hot and cold affect the body? What's the proper way to use a sauna? Why is contrast therapy…
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Best books for wild swimmers
Whether you want to discover new wild swimming locations, pore over nature writing at its most lyrical, lose yourself in…
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Vote Ella for ‘Outdoor Personality of the Year’!
We're so proud of editor Ella Foote for being nominated 'Outdoor Personality of the Year' for The Great Outdoors Reader…
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The Fell Foodie’s fondue au chocolat recipe
Harrison Ward shows you how to have the perfect, warming chocolatey treat after a cold swim.
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The Flushed Dippers: the effects of cold water and menopause
Open water swim coach Marianne Johnson has recently launched a weekly open water swimming group for peri- and post-menopausal women.…
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Winter swimming: embrace the chill, but stay safe
Why you need to consider the whole experience, not just your time in the water
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Move of the month: Kettlebell Good Morning
This kettlebell exercise primarily works the hamstrings on the back of the legs giving us improved strength and flexibility in…
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Plymouth swimmers making waves
Close encounters with seals, dolphins and the Royal Navy: Jason Mann shares the story of an adventurous band of Plymouth…
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Simple and life changing
"Without technology I wouldn’t be able to do all the things I do," says adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge.
