FEATURES

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

Family Swims

Open water swimming is best when shared with loved ones, says SwimTrek founder Simon Murie I am squeezing in writing…
Long Distance Love Affair

Distance training with a group can be life-changing, says SwimTrek founder Simon Murie It was 17 years ago that I…
How to keep swimming fit during the coronavirus pandemic

Thinking about keeping fit for swimming while there’s a coronavirus pandemic raging may seem, at best, a little odd, or,…
5 swim reads to revisit whilst you are stuck at home

Cooped up at home? Unable to go for a swim? Look at the positives! This as a great opportunity to…
Is the open water still open?

At the time of writing leisure centres and swimming pools are closed and the government has advised us to avoid…
Swimspiration while in isolation: on screen

When you are an active person who likes to be outdoors, spending time watching television or films might not be…
Swimspiration while in isolation: in print

There is never a better time to catch up on your reading and there is no shortage of great books…
Swimspiration while in isolation: podcasts

If you want to step away from the screen and don’t have the concentration span for reading at the moment,…
Swimspiration while in isolation: games

It is hard to mimic a good swim, but these were a fun distraction. If you really are going a…
Swimspiration while in isolation: learning

If you have any energy left after working from home, doing a work-out in your living room, home-schooling the kids,…
Seven reasons why an enforced break from swimming might be good for you

There’s been lots of social media chat this week about whether outdoor swimming could be acceptable as your allocated one…
Orca: the apex predator of all the seas

The Tlingit, whose territory is in the Pacific Northwest coast of North America have a legend about the origin of…
When and how might we get back to outdoor swimming?

I’ve previously written about the impact of coronavirus on businesses involved in or connected to outdoor swimming (see “How Coronavirus…
How to cope with life when you can’t swim

My working assumption is that everyone has bad stuff in their lives to deal with: traumatic events in the past,…
Alternatives to swimming: the pros and cons

Does anyone remember those times before coronavirus? In that previous life, people would occasionally ask me, how do I find…
The Liffey Swim turns 100

Dublin’s beloved open water offering turned 100 in 2019. Elaine Howley takes a look at the history of the Liffey…
Exploring Ireland’s wild swimming spots

Five swimmers with an inflatable tent, an estate car and a plan to try out as many different Irish swims…
Irish Moss – a useful seaweed

A lifeline for many Irish families escaping the Potato Famine was provided by a small seaweed called Irish moss (Chondrus…
How to swim one million metres in a year

To swim a million metres in a year you need to average 83,333.3m per month or 19,230.8m per week. If…
Our top 5 heated lidos

Here at Outdoor Swimmer magazine, we’re big advocates of a cold water swim, but we understand that swimming outdoors in…
Love of the wild: the mermaid and the soprano

A modern love story for Valentine’s Day. Did you ever hear the tale of the mermaid and the soprano? No?…
Swimming from Old Harry Rocks to The Needles

Swimming from Old Harry Rocks to The Needles: A grand day out by Ali Budynkiewicz I have a beach hut…
Long distance breaststroke swimming

Simon Griffiths reflects on long distance breaststroke, one of open water swimming’s longest but now largely forgotten traditions, after he…
Nine years in outdoor swimming and still going strong

I launched Outdoor Swimmer magazine (H2Open as it was known then) in February 2011 – nine years (and 75 issues)…
IISA British Ice Swimming Championships 2020: a bit too warm, but a whole lot of fun!

Joanne Jones reflects on the IISA British Ice Swimming Championships 2020 which were held at Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham.…