Wild Swimming

My grandad learned to swim in the ditches around Cambridge. I learned in a swimming pool. A lot of places now are no swimming, which I think is daft because some of the lakes are more picturesque than outdoor pools

I know a few people that do but like you I do wonder about stuff in the water. Otherwise I think I'd take it up myself to be honest, it really sounds like challenging fun. x

I have a place near me that has waterfalls and a stream feeding from them and it is so clear and clean and I have swam in it, not sure I would swim in The Thames or anything though, especially remembering how ill David Walliams was after swimming in it. I'm wary of how deceptive rivers look too, they can look very calm but the current can be extremely fast

I'd suggest going to an unheated outdoor Lido or somewhere like the Hampstead Heath ponds first to get used to swimming in colder water. It really does take your breath away when you enter water. If enjoy it you can find organised outdoor swimming events online. There is also a company called Swimtrek that do swimming days/holidays in the UK and other parts of the world. They offer outdoor swims that are suitable for beginners -

In this country even in summer many places that look safe are not. I'm a regular swimmer but would never swim in any unsupervised places - unless I fell in!

With all the jobbies, tampons and other effluent being pumped into the rivers its not really a good idea unless you are a fan of viruses!

Its a great thing to do but not in 90% of the rivers or lakes in this country.

Almost every Scottish Loch is now contaminated because of the fish farms - just google "salmon the most toxic food on the planet & Arran fisheries disaster".

The Norwegians are to blame strangely!

Before I had kids, I liked nothing better than swimming in lakes and locks. I always wore a short thin wetsuit to keep the chill out and had a hot shower when I got home. Now I usually only swim in pools or the sea on holiday as you say.

Wild swimming has its obvious dangers. The cold can shock your system and the possibility of unseen underwater hazards that could snag you.

But like any activity, if you are physically up to it and are sensible younshould be fine.

I think swimming with others is the best anyway, as you have others to chat to as well as for safety. I understand that there are wild swimming groups al over the country and I'm certain they are on social media to check them out!!

I say, go for it!!

Could be worse could be swimming in the amazon like the superb Edd Stafford tried and end up with a Candiru up yer jimmy - now that is a very very scary thought for any man!

Gives me shivers just thinking about it!

For young kids this lake near Hindhead is great:

The secret beach in Surrey that you might not know exists

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/secret-beach-surrey-you-might-13649947