FEATURES

In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.

Men’s swimming costumes: what to wear, where and when

We polled our readers to find out what men prefer to wear in six scenarios ranging from wild swimming, open…
Stellar lineup of WOWSA nominees

Melanie Barratt, Andy Donaldson, Neil Agius and Caitlin O’Reilly among an inspiring array of open water swimmers shortlisted for this…
Get involved: The Big Swim 2025

It’s not just about plunging into cold water – The Big Swim is about connection, courage, empowerment and community. Here’s…
Weekend swim break: Cedar Manor, Lake District

Ella Foote heads to Cedar Manor, Windermere, for an indulgent afternoon tea, fell walks and cool dips in lakeland tarns.
A unique vision for a community pool

Health worker Amy Morris wishes to create geothermal swimming pools in the middle of the Cotswolds, allowing swimmers to take…
Portishead Popsicle Party

Portishead Popsicle is a highlight in many swimmers’ calendars and for the second time Ella Foote plunged into Portishead Open…
Asking the right questions about your swimming

Wherever you’re at on your swimming journey, it’s always important to take a few moments to reflect on the swimming…
The Rivers Trust: reflecting and looking ahead

Environment charity The Rivers Trust shares their hopes and goals for the year ahead, striving for "a proactive approach to…
Caitlin O’Reilly: word’s youngest Ocean Seven swimmer

An ultra-marathon swimmer from New Zealand has got herself in the Guinness World Records after becoming the world’s youngest person…
Swim away the blues: the mental health benefits of cold water swimming

We’ve all heard the stories about how cold-water swimming helps promote good mental health. Rowan Clarke asks why icy dips…
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?
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…
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…
“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.
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…
Swim on in 2025

What has 2025 got in store for outdoor swimming? Rowan Clarke finds out.
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…
Pools in peril

Simon Griffiths looks at why pools are in peril and what the consequences might be.
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…
Swim walks in Pembrokeshire

Endurance swimmer Rowan Clarke tells us why this area of South Wales is her little piece of heaven for going…
Cove hopping in Devon

Endurance swimmer Rowan Clarke shares one of her favourite activities she like to do when exploring the Devon coast
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…
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…
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…
“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…