Go for your first wild swim
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Swimming in a river, lake or the sea puts you inside the landscape instead of looking at it. The Outdoor Swimming Society's guidance covers everything a newcomer needs to choose a spot and get in well.
ModerateFreeAn afternoonOutdoorsWith othersUK and USSummer for a first swim
Someone who has done it
How to start
- Read the Outdoor Swimming Society's getting started and cold water advice.
- Choose a known swimming spot with an easy way in and out.
- Go with an experienced swimmer, enter slowly and keep the first swim short.
Where to go
We opened this link on 6 October 2026 and found it to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
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