October 2026 ‘Extreme Environments’
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At this time of year, in the Northern Hemisphere, our thoughts naturally start to turn towards the cold, but in autumn we are transitioning and there are still wonderful moments where you get some warmth either in the water or from the sun. Sea swimmers will be enjoying their local water at its warmest at this time of year, while those who thrive in cold water are counting the days until the first frost.
Cold water often gets most of the attention when it comes to outdoor swimming, and for good reason. There is something about the shock, the way it strips your thoughts down to nothing but breath and survival, but this month I wanted to explore the other extreme. After a summer of wildfires, drought and extreme heat, what does the other extreme look like, and what is it like to swim in those conditions?
Hot or cold, swimming in either extreme has common ground. No matter what end of the thermometer you like to swim, either gasping in ice or sliding through warm water, you must pay close attention to your body in a way no other sport demands. Both extremes ask for presence and attention, which is often the point of what we like to do.
Inside we share swimmers’ experiences and stories of the cold and the heat, along with guidance on how to deal with both. Working on this issue, like with many, made me think about how I can test my own limits a little more and it may inspire you to do the same.
As we head towards winter, do take care if you are experimenting with your own swims. We have an interesting piece on Transient Global Amnesia (TGA), an increasingly common occurrence among outdoor swimmers, which explains what it is and how to help a fellow swimmer. In gear, we look at changing robes, an essential piece of kit for this time of year. Across our challenge section there are some brilliant highlights from recent events, and in travel, I report on a magical experience I had last winter in Sweden.
Wherever you swim this month, I hope this issue gives you something to think about next time you step into water that makes you catch your breath, whether hot or cold..
Ella Foote, Editor
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- Riding the Tide: Swim London’s Speedy 10K
A strong current turns Swim London’s 10km down the tidal Thames into a surprisingly speedy adventure. Simon Griffiths gave it a try! - Swimming the Hellespont: navigating the current from Europe to Asia
Swimming the Hellespont is unlike any other open-water event, with a fast-moving current, tricky navigation and 1,500 swimmers crossing the Dardanelles. But this historic swim offers much more than a challenge in the water, as Simon Griffiths reports. - Can citizen science help bring our rivers back from the brink?
Back from the brink: The Rivers Trust explains why we need better data to tackle extreme river environments - New seaweed map
A new interactive map is turning thousands of citizen-recorded seaweed sightings into a picture of how climate change is reshaping the UK’s coastal ecosystems - Spellbinding Sweden
Reindeer, dancing colours in the sky, woodsmoke and hooning about on snowmobiles in swimsuits, Ella Foote is captivated by winter in Sweden. - Weekend swim retreat: The Smuggler’s Rest, North Devon
North Devon might be famous for surfing, but its rugged coastline hides a wealth of coves, channels and wild swimming spots. Editor Ella discovers the best of the coast, with a welcoming base at The Smuggler’s Rest in Mortehoe - Windermere hosts UK’s biggest gathering of outdoor swimming researchers
From jellyfish to sewage, Windermere played host to the year’s sharpest thinking on the water we swim in - Two swimmers, one memorable weekend
This year Jharna Kumawat set out to swim the length of Lake Annecy in the French Alps, it didn’t always go to plan, but she plunged anyway… - How to choose a changing robe
We asked the experts at Dryrobe® what to look for in a changing robe. Plus, our experts review the latest in warm and weatherproof changewear - Take our quiz: what tow float should I get?
Do you prefer a point-to-point swim, a dip and a chat or the latest piece of kit? Take our quiz to find out the best tow float for your swimming style - Beat the training blues
As autumn draws us indoors and summer motivation fades, it’s tempting to put training on the back burner. Discover how setting clear goals, building simple routines and mixing things up can help you keep moving through the darker months – and emerge stronger for next season’s swims. - Seek seasonal ritual
As the days grow shorter and winter closes in, could a simple swimming ritual help us embrace the season rather than retreat from it? From candlelit dips to noticing the changing light, discover how small, deliberate habits can reconnect us with the outdoors. - Train for the extreme: how the pool can prepare you for your toughest open-water swims
Built in the pool, proven in the wild: How to use the swimming pool to prepare for extreme outdoor swimming. - How to prepare for an extreme open water swim
As open water swimmers, we love to push our boundaries says Alice Dearing - A new chapter for HOWL The Haven
After 18 months of preparation and support from NOWCA, The Haven in Feltham has reopened its doors, bringing a much-loved stretch of open water back to the swimming community - Trunks vs jammers
A body hugging streamlined fit or more modest comfort beside the pool – a round up of the latest men’s swimwear - Hot stuff: the other extreme
Ella Foote talks to experts and swimmers about why swimming in heat deserves the same respect as swimming in ice - Powered by why
Neil Gilson tells Rowan Clarke how his reason for swimming Switzerland’s 10 largest lakes made it possible - The new extreme
Cold-water swimming may have gone mainstream, but it remains an extreme activity – one that reveals the limits of human adaptation and offers a unique perspective on our changing environment. Rowan Clarke explores what we can learn from pushing ourselves to the edge. - You don’t need to travel to find extreme environments, says Simon Griffiths
Winter swimming may feel familiar, accessible and fun, but cold water is an extreme environment wherever you encounter it. Simon Griffiths explains why we should never let familiarity breed complacency – and how understanding the risks can help us enjoy winter swimming safely. - Swimming into a fairytale
A fairytale lake, a 5km challenge and crystal-clear mountain rivers: Abigail Whyte heads to Slovenia for X-Waters and discovers an open water swimming destination she can’t wait to return to
