Swimming spot: Escape to the Lake, Worcestershire
Digital editor Abi headed into rural Worcestershire to visit a new swimming lake where she experienced a Yoga, Sound Bath & Wild Swim
Lakes are my favourite wild places to swim. I love the calmness of the water, the trees reflected on the surface and generally I just find them easier and more pleasant to swim in compared with a river or the sea. So I was very excited when I heard about a new swimming lake that’s only a 20-minute drive from me, set in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside near the market town of Malvern. The lake also happens to have the most enticing What3Words I’ve ever heard – HONEYBEES.CRYSTAL.CRUNCHES.
The clouds above look ominously grey as I arrive at Escape to the Lake to experience a Yoga, Sound Bath & Swim hosted by Carrie Orgee. Her sister-in law, Pippa Orgee, opened this wild swimming retreat back in May and has been busy making exciting alterations to the site, including establishing an Island Studio for hosting more of their classes.
Today’s Yoga, Sound Bath & Swim is to take place in their beautiful stretch tent, looking out onto carpets of daisies along the lake’s shoreline. Before I roll out my yoga mat, I speak with Carrie to learn more about the therapeutic benefits of a sound bath.
“Sound healing revolves around the idea that sound frequencies can have a profound impact on our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. By harnessing the power of specific frequencies and vibrations, we aim to restore harmony and balance during the session,” Carrie tells me. “I use a diverse array of instruments to create a symphony of healing sounds. A meditation to promote deep relaxation followed by Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, gongs and other instruments. I always finish with a poem relevant to the session.”
I ask her why sound baths are particularly beneficial before a wild swim.
“Sound baths relax the mind and body, reducing anxiety and stress about the cold water,” Carrie explains. “The soothing sounds improve focus and mental clarity. They also relax muscles and heighten sensory awareness, making the swim more enjoyable. Additionally, sound baths encourage deep breathing, and enhance the connection to nature, leading to a more refreshing and enriching wild swimming experience. This, combined with the many benefits of open water swimming, means our guests are able to really experience the powerful combination of both sounds and swim.”
After the yoga session (during which I learn how to do Downward Dog properly) I settle down under a blanket for the sound bath. I forget to use the herbal-scented eye mask provided by Carrie but I thoroughly enjoy the experience nonetheless – entranced by the building crescendo of healing sounds, complemented by the distant call of a cuckoo somewhere in the trees.
As soon as the sound bath ends the heavens finally open, but that doesn’t stop any of us changing into our swimsuits for a dip in the lake, watching fat droplets explode on the surface. It’s glorious. My senses are utterly invigorated as I bob around the water among the raindrops. I swim a lap of the island, working up my appetite for post-swim treats by the fire pit.
Warm and dry once more, I catch up with Escape to the Lake’s founder Pippa about how she’s been finding the journey since opening up the swim venue.
“Opening the lake has been somewhat a rollercoaster,” Pippa tells me. “Navigating the opening of a new business is always tricky, but we had the addition of one of the wettest winter on record and a huge amount of red tape to deal with. That said, it has been nothing short of one of the most rewarding things we have done. Our swimmers have been supportive, kind and our biggest cheerleaders.
“We have some really exciting events coming up,” she adds. “More dates for our hugely popular Yoga, Sound & Swim, Full Moon Swims, and for those with a creative flare – art classes lead by the award winning Juliet Wallace-Mason. We also hope to have an opening date for our lakeside wood fired sauna too!”
Replenished with homemade granola, cake and tea, I pack my kit bag and wander back to my car – past the banks of daisies and scampering guinea fowl – looking forward to the next chapter of Escape to the Lake’s journey. I might even sign up for an art class.
To find out more about Escape to the Lake, visit escapetothelake.co.uk
Abigail Whyte
Abi writes swimming news stories and features for the Outdoor Swimmer website and manages the social media channels. She loves to swim, run, hike and SUP close to her home in Herefordshire. While she’s a keen wild swimmer, Abi is new to the world of open water events and recently completed her first open water mile. She has previously written for The Guardian, BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC History Magazine and Ernest Journal.
