View from the Water

Gain a fresh perspective as swimmers share their unique viewpoints and reflections on the world from the water's edge.

Thinking ahead

We had a team meeting this morning (18/4/11) to firm up what’s going into issue 3, coming out in June.…
Freakishly warm

Normally at this time of year I expect to wear a wetsuit and a neoprene hat, and still suffer from…
2swim4life

I’ve just returned from Guildford Lido where 100 or so people are in the middle of the gruelling 2swim4lifechallenge. The event,…
Why do we have to keep defending the safety of swimming?

You probably noticed the news last week that Brighton Council will be taking steps this year to discourage people from…
The long-term impact of lockdown on pool swimming

Simon Griffiths considers the impact of Covid on the long-term growth of swimming While we’ve been celebrating the increase in…
Keep calm and carry on – and other sea swimming tips

Sea swimming tips aimed at swimmers taking part in near-shore organised swim events or wild swimming rather than long-distance sea…
Would you swim in polluted water?

The more people swim, paddle and play in our rivers, the more urgent cleaning them up becomes, says Simon Griffiths
Locked out of your pool? Are you thinking about starting wild swimming?

In England, we have a new national lockdown. For swimmers, pools (indoors and out) and open water venues have to…
The attributes of lifelong swimmers

Simon Griffiths on the attributes of people who become long-term or even lifelong swimmers
2021 – Adventures Await

Just when you thought things were getting better… Boom. A virulent new strain of coronavirus coupled with Brexit. But we…
Why does swimming in cold water make you feel good

Science suggests plausible mechanisms but not the full story One morning in March, I stood, shivering, on the banks of…
Should safe diving boards be installed at rivers?

Simon Griffiths suggests putting diving boards at rivers to offer youngsters an alternative to jumping from bridges and lock structures.…
Outdoor swimming is back, but not as we know it

Outdoor swimming is back, but it will look very different to anything we have seen before, says Simon Griffiths. Amid…
8 tips for working from home

Here at Outdoor Swimmer we are experts at working from home. You might imagine that we have a big office…
How has the pandemic affected open water swimming venues?

The combination of pool closures and a hot summer has seen demand boom for swimming at safe, supervised venues The combination…
Why I’m not swimming right now: the temptation is real, but the risk is as well

“Hi. My name is Elaine, and it’s been 66 days since my last swim.” That last swim was a 25…
Should swimming be given special treatment in lockdown 2?

There’s a petition going around asking the government to: “Allow open-air swimming pools, lidos & lakes to open in a…
The Joy of Thames Swimming – and some safety tips

I’ve lived close to the Thames, near Teddington Lock, for 20 years, but – until this summer – I’ve always…
Simon Griffiths shares an open letter to Jeremy Clarkson

Dear Jeremy, Your article in the Sunday times about wild swimming was recently brought to my attention. It was entertaining.…
How to get started in stand up paddle boarding

With people now looking towards socially-distanced sports to occupy their time, paddle boarding could be a great option and partner…
Eight tips to help you develop a life-long swimming habit

If you’re a life-long swimmer – and I know there are lots of you out there – you won’t need…
I’m a pool swimmer and I want to start swimming outdoors while pools are closed: what should I do?

The letter below, is an example of many similar letters we’re receiving at the moment, so we thought we’d share…
A tale of two swimruns

At the end of November, I took part in Ötillö Swimrun Malta. We’ll be publishing an event report in Outdoor…
Training sessions 1st to 15th January 2019

In August 2019, I’m aiming to swim 21km (plus potentially a little more) at Vidösternsimmet, which is billed as Sweden’s…
Why is an 800m race in the pool harder than the same distance in open water?

Image: The pools at Ponds Forge during the National Masters Swimming Championships My favourite distances to race in open water…