FEATURES

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

The internal chatter of a cold-water dipper

Canadian reader Glenda Bonne reveals her innermost thoughts before and after a cold-water swim. Can you relate?
Watch our cold water swimming webinar

If you missed a chance to join us live, you can now watch our ‘Lunch Talk for the Winter Curious’…
The Swim Nomad

Swedish adventurer Jari Cennet Tammi plans to swim the coast of the Mediterranean from Istanbul to Cadiz over seven years.…
How do I motivate myself to train through winter?

Swimming coach Cassie Patten believes the winter months are prime time for focusing on technique and maintaining fitness levels.
The gift of swimming

There’s something special about gifting swimming to those who can’t access it themselves. Rowan Clarke looks at different ways to…
Join our editor Ella Foote in conversation with Lindsey Cole and Becca Harvey

Learn how the outdoor swimming community has become a crucial voice in the protection of our rivers and find out…
Swimming spot: Keeper’s Pond, Monmouthshire

Enjoy a lofty lake swim with views of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) followed by a sauna on the water's edge.
My fastest skins swim of the 3 Lakes Challenge

Helen Hislop shares her story of becoming the fastest skins swimmer to swim Coniston, Ullswater and Windermere consecutively, with a…
Hector Pardoe, Yvette Tetteh and Jonty Warneken join Ella at Kendal Mountain Festival

This Sunday 19 November at Kendal Mountain Festival, editor Ella will be joined by some incredible athletes from the outdoor…
Update from the London Waterkeeper: what next in our fight against pollution?

London Waterkeeper is an advocacy charity that targets the systemic reasons for river pollution. Founder Theo Thomas shares his thoughts…
New cold-water swimming retreat in the Lake District

Rothay Manor, a boutique hotel in Ambleside, is launching a new series of cold-water swimming retreats this winter, focusing on…
“Swimming has been my lifesaver”

Derek Yach kept swimming while receiving treatment for cancer – he shares his incredible story with us.
Create your own winter swimming training plan

If you have the budget and want to progress quickly, a good swimming coach can create a training plan to…
Ultraswim33.3: “We’ve got the formula right”

Fresh from Ultraswim33.3 #2Montenegro, Mark Turner tells us about this multi-day swimming event that's fast becoming a highlight on the…
Deakin & Blue launch new swimsuit to help keep Mental Health Swims afloat

£15 from the sale of every Deakin & Blue Vitamin Sea Swimsuit will go directly to Mental Health Swims so…
Our oldest mixed relay across the English Channel

David Rock and his swim buddies tell us about their record-breaking (pending ratification) oldest mixed 4-person relay across the Channel,…
Swimming watercolours in County Mayo, Ireland

From golden lough swims and yellow flat periwinkles to pale turquoise seas and grey skies, County Mayo’s swims are drawn…
Is pollution in rivers getting worse? And what can you do about it?

Campaigners have elevated awareness of sewage pollution to the point that has become an important political issue. But how bad…
ReWild Swim Club, Gloucestershire

Nestled in rewilding land, tucked into the meandering course of the River Severn, is a hidden space where you will…
Unsinkable: Alan Corcoran’s swim of the length of Ireland

Alan Corcoran swam the length of Ireland in memory of his father. He spoke to Jonathan Cowie about his experience.
Is cold water harder to swim in because it’s ‘thicker’?

As water cools, it becomes both more dense and more viscous but are those the reasons it's harder to swim…
La’al Sauna – a horse box sauna roaming the Lake District

We spoke to Debbie Noble about her converted horse box sauna that frequents Cumbrian swimming spots, and how saunas enhance…
What does it take to swim an ice mile?

If you’ve ever seen a swimmer at the end of their ice mile, you’ll appreciate what an incredible feat of…
Leszek Naziemiec’s Yukon Odyssey

After conquering the 1,000km Vistula River in his native Poland, adventure swimmer Leszek Naziemiec turned his attention to the far…
Cold water swimming: a healthy habit

Dipping and swimming in cold water is increasingly being touted as good for health. But what does the science say?