December 2025,  EXTRA,  FEATURES,  View from the Water

Is it better to swim wild and free or pay to use a venue?

Venues make outdoor swimming more accessible, inclusive and sustainable, says Simon Griffiths

Last month, I visited Lake 32 in the Cotswold Water Park. If I lived closer, I’d be sorely tempted to become a member.

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I started Outdoor Swimmer in 2011 (initially as H2Open Magazine) as an outlet for my passion for swimming outdoors. I've been a swimmer and outdoor swimmer for as long as I remember. Swimming has made a huge difference to my life and I want to share its joys and benefits with as many people as possible. I am also the author of Swim Wild & Free: A Practical Guide to Swimming Outdoors 365 a Year, I provide one-to-one support to swimmers through Swim Mentoring and I'm the creator of the Renaissance Swimmer project.