FEATURES
In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.
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Save Shepperton Open Water Swim
A community of swimmers are appealing for help to prevent the River Thames Scheme from flowing into Shepperton Open Water…
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Readers’ Swims: Lanzarote to Fuerteventura
Mark Johansen tackled the 16km Bocaina Strait while on holiday
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Sea hiking: A step towards sea swimming
Sea hiking could be a stepping stone into sea swimming for those who are not yet confident. Both energetic and…
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Testing the limits with novelist J.H. Mann
Writer J.H. Mann on the epic ocean challenge that inspired his new thriller.
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Beachcombing: Tales from the shoreline
Rowan Clarke meets the beachcombers finding tiny objects that tell extraordinary stories.
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The Tidal Year
A new book, The Tidal Year, follows swimmer Freya Bromley attempting to swim in every tidal pool in mainland Britain.…
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Lido Guide: Jesus Green
Jesus Green, the 100 yard pool in Cambridge, turns 100 years old this summer. Author of The Lido Guide, Emma…
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Swimming in Lake Malawi National Park
Lake Malawi – the world’s ninth largest lake covering an area larger than Wales – is where Dennis Lupenga learnt to…
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Why do an open water event?
Do I have to be a fast swimmer? Do I need to swim front crawl? Will I get pushed under…
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New study dips into the world of cold-water swimmers
A short film captures the journey of students and cold-water swimmers collaborating on a research project testing the saliva of…
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“It makes me feel young, healthy and silly”: Swimming for mental health
In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week (15-21 May), the Outdoor Swimmer team share their experiences of what open water…
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Swimming the Lakes – as fast as possible
Matt Dawson wants to swim the 13 publicly accessible lakes of the Lake District in a record time Outdoor Swimmer:…
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Wild swims in Greece
Sam Firman and Nick Hooton, authors of Wild Guide Greece, share a selection of their favourite Greek swims.
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Three Gifts: a contract between two sea swimmers
Mark Radcliffe's new book Three Gifts tells the story of an unusual contract between two sea swimmers, and explores one…
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Event review: Scottish Winter Swimming Championships
Rowan Clarke heads to Loch Tay for her favourite winter event: the Scottish Winter Swimming Championships
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A short daily yoga and breathing practice
These restorative yoga poses allow you to explore your breath from different angles, says Liz Lowe.
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Footwear for outdoor swimming
It's a good idea to give our feet some protection when outdoor swimming. Here we share some footwear options.
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Move of the month: Donkey Kicks
Vivienne Rickman is your guide to a move that strengthens lower back muscles and promotes good posture – an ideal…
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How to overcome your fear of open water
Jonathan Cowie muses on the perils of outdoor swimming, and how to overcome a sudden feeling of panic in the…
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The underwater world we see
From jellyfish to a gravestone(!), adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge shares some of the strange things she's encountered in the water.
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Sarah Thomas: swimming the Molokai Channel
Marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas shares the lessons she learned swimming the Molokai Channel.
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Caution advised for swimmers ahead of Bank Holiday weekend
The weather may be warming up but people thinking of taking the plunge this weekend are being urged to consider…
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In search of holy water
Jonathan Cowie (who has yet to swim in a well) delves into archives of wishing wells, springs and water boreholes…
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Mami Wata and the Black Mermaids
Of course mermaids can be Black. Elaine K Howley delves into the mythologies behind Hans Christian Andersen’s enduring fairy tale,…
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Swimming spot: Rhossili and Blue Pool, Gower
Walk through sand dunes to play in the waves at one of Wales’ best-loved beaches. Nia Lloyd Knott, author of…
