Jan/Feb 2026 ‘Right to Swim’
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At its simplest, swimming is an act of freedom. A body moving through water, held and carried, asking for very little in return. Yet when we talk about the Right to Swim, we are also talking about access, safety, permission, and who gets to feel they belong in open water. This January/ February issue explores that idea from the shoreline outwards, asking what needs to change so that more of us can enter the water with confidence and care.
Rowan Clarke speaks to swimmers, organisers, and campaigners who are reshaping the landscape of outdoor swimming, examining what true access looks like and how we protect the spaces we love. Ella Foote takes us into the legal and academic world of water with Cristy Clark, whose work on the legal geographies of swimming challenges us to think differently about ownership, responsibility, and our relationship with rivers, lakes, and seas.
The future of outdoor swimming runs through this issue too. We hear from teachers, schools, and coaches who are opening doors for the next generation, ensuring that confidence in water is learned early and shared widely. We are also delighted to welcome a powerful new voice to the magazine. Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing, the first Black woman to represent Team GB in the water, joins Outdoor Swimmer as a coaching contributor. From 2026 onwards, Alice will be guiding you through endurance, challenge, and ambition in the water, helping you swim further and stronger.
Alongside this, Gear Editor Jo Tinsley brings practical warmth to winter with reviews of sauna kit, swimsuits, and warm boots, while our free annual travel supplement invites you to dream ahead. New places, new water, and the simple pleasure of swimming somewhere different.
As a new year opens, this issue is both a celebration and a call to action. If we care for access, for each other, and for the waters themselves, 2026 could be the best year of swimming yet.
Ella Foote, Editor
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- Meet Laura Hall
Laura Hall is an award-winning author, travel writer and journalist based in Copenhagen. Her new book, The Year I Lay My Head In Water, is out now - Freezin’ for a reason every season
Proud stepdad Duncan Baird wonders if his daughter Grace is part mermaid, not just because of the way she glides through the water but because of her love of being in it. Here, he shares her inspiring challenge raising money for charity - A democratic activity
When Jharna Kumawat first started outdoor swimming, she didn’t realise access to safe water was such a huge issue but today it is important for her swimming - Flying south to swim
In search of warmer waters, Ben Lane booked a trip to Lanzarote and discovered a treasure trove of stunning coastlines and beautifully clean seas - A vision for tidal Thames swimming
Could a revived historic swim become a new flagship event for London? - Boost your strength and mobility for better movement
Make 2026 the year you move better – understanding the link between strength and mobility, says personal trainer Liz Lowe - How do I choose the best swimsuit back style?
How do you balance performance and support when it comes to swimwear back styles? Margot Lundgren, Product Line Manager for Zoggs Swimwear, shares her expert advice - Sustainable fitness for 2026
When fitness becomes part of your life rather than something extra you have to “fit in,” you are far more likely to still be doing it beyond the first few weeks of January, says health coach Vivienne Rickman - Use the pool to transform your technique
Swim coach Nicola Butler explains how using pool features, from the lane ropes to pool markings, can improve your swim technique - Build your resilience over winter
In her first coaching feature for Outdoor Swimmer, Olympian Alice Dearing explains how resilience in winter is worth it when it comes to long summer days of swimming - Weekend swim retreat: Rothay Manor, Ambleside
Ella Foote heads to the Lake District for a weekend swim break just a short distance from Windermere and central for hiking routes around Helvellyn and Scafell Pike - Dip for a difference
Join Sub10 Club or Wild Sub10 Club this winter and turn your cold water swims into lasting impact – help fund swimming lessons for children with disabilities - Wading in for civil rights
Black swimmers went to the beach to protest racial segregation in 1950s and early ’60s America - In hot water: swimming and climate change
Through her research, Abi Lafbery has discovered that outdoor swimmers have an immersive knowledge about the water and environments they swim in. - SwimSafe: creating confidence in open water
Vivienne Rickman has been working with the SwimSafe team in North Wales and shares how programs like this help children to stay safe in and around open water - How to age well: supporting joint health through swimming
Having healthy joints is key to aging well. We reveal how swimming provides a low-impact way to support joint health and keep active as we get older - Introducing our new expert contributor Alice Dearing
We’re delighted to welcome Alice Dearing, British marathon swimmer and Olympian, as our new challenge and endurance swim guide - Child’s play
Watch out for the new generation of outdoor swimming stars, says Rowan Clarke - Law, access and our relationship with water
Ella Foote talks with academic Cristy Clark about her new book, Legal Geographies of Water, and why our relationship with water is shaped by law as much as by feeling - Our right to swim
What does having a right to swim really mean? Rowan Clarke investigates - You may have more swim freedom than you think
Despite having a glorious swimming resource on his doorstep, it didn’t occur to Simon to use it - Education, not exclusion
Venues offer safety, community and inclusivity, which make them invaluable, says adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge - Warm boots for outdoor swimmers
Insulating, easy to slip on and grippy on muddy riverbanks: keep your feet toasty in our pick of the best warm boots for outdoor swimmers. - Sauna kit
An insulated water bottle, travel-ready toiletries and a swimsuit designed for the heat, get sauna-ready with our pick of the best sauna accessories.
