FEATURES
In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.
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How to handle wildlife encounters
Swimming near animals and birds can be magical, exciting or scary. We asked wildlife experts how wild swimmers should handle…
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How to keep swimming strong as you age, with World Record Holder Deborah Gardner
How do you keep swimming strong and even improving into your 50s, 60s and beyond? Long distance swimmer Deborah Gardner…
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Sustain your swims: Italian wedding soup with lentils
Chef and food writer Claire Thomson shares healthy meals for longer swims from her new book, One Pan Beans. Try…
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Meet Laura Hall
Laura Hall is an award-winning author, travel writer and journalist based in Copenhagen. Her new book, The Year I Lay…
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Sustain your swims: Split pea and ham soup
Chef and food writer Claire Thomson shares healthy meals for longer swims from her new book, One Pan Beans. Try…
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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
