There’s a lot to hold you back if you’re curious and keen to start swimming wild. Like so-called wild camping, it’s an adventurous pursuit much-maligned. Yet once you peek behind the veil of access debates and mitigating ecological impact, you’ll find a group of enthusiasts who care deeply about their local blue spaces and are ready to warmly welcome you into the cold water.
The author embodies this approach. Siân Anna Lewis was swimming outdoors long before it became ‘wild swimming’ – indeed, Swimming Wild in South West England feels more intimate and personal than a guidebook. Lewis guides you to her local spots with an attitude of zero-pretence, non-judgment adventure for all, underpinned with a humble shared knowledge that’ll help you get the most out of your swims.
The guidebook reminds me of real-life chattered conversations you might have when you meet a fellow swimmer by the water: talk of the best time of day to swim; where the good exit points are; whether you might come upon a disgruntled bystander on the banks; where the wind tends to blow in from; and which sections of shoreline – perhaps home to fragile flora and fauna ecosystems or perhaps honeypots prone to crowding – to avoid.
Swimming Wild in South West England offers over 50 wild swimming and open water swimming spots on the beaches, rivers, lakes and tidal pools of the West Country. I loved learning the local folklore tied to some of these special places, beautifully retold by Lewis. While not from the South West myself, I had seen one or two spots floating around on my social media feeds prior to reading the guidebook – but I found a veritable smorgasbord of new swim adventures to add to my bucket list in these pages.
While accessible to newcomers, the book goes beyond the basics to be a worthwhile guide even for those who’ve been swimming for some time. I consider myself a proficient swimmer and yet there were tips in Swimming Wild in South West England that taught me new concepts – such as the ‘sail through seaweed’ rule to which, living inland in the Peak District, I really hadn’t given much consideration!
Plus, there’s no stoicism here. Lewis details the refreshments stops and hot drink haunts that’ll help you feel comfortable and make your dips so memorable – whatever the weather. The no-nonsense, no-jargon kit list will debunk a lot of concerns for newcomers and served as interesting reading for vets. I particularly enjoyed Lewis’ simple yet empathetic take on the wetsuit versus skins debate which seems to plague online discussions. Again, her inclusion of skinny dipping – and her tips on how to do so responsibly – are illustrative of a simple approach to finding joy swimming without trying to sell you the next wellness fad or expensive changing robe.
Commercial swim venues with entry fees are included in the guidebook – a surprise, initially, but well-justified by the author who rightly points out that these more controlled environments can provide safe guided first swims for beginners. Their marked routes can also help those training for endurance swims with sighting and pacing practice.
I review a fair amount of guidebooks to England for TGO and Lewis is one of the few authors who so clearly dubs the lack of access to water “a tragedy”. While some authors swiftly skip over the issue of right to responsible access, Lewis’ balanced take doesn’t pander to one side of the fence or the other. She also clearly outlines the issue of water quality that beauty spots up and down the country are facing and signposts how you can help.
Practically speaking, each spot comes with an Ordnance Survey map with the location of the swim spot clearly marked – especially appreciated for tide and venus pools which can be tricky to locate. Many places are easily accessed from the coastal paths. Some inland swim spots, especially those in Dartmoor, may have benefitted from more detailed walking routes with waypoints as in other swim-walk guidebooks.
A key information box outlines the need-to-know for each spot, however, and for most, it suffices. I particularly appreciated the index of Sian’s Top Fives at the back of the guidebook – if you’re particularly keen on beach swims or swims with pools or swims in places with folkloric significance, turn here first. We swimmers – a sociable bunch by and large – like to get together outdoors so Lewis also includes events by region.
Overall, this is a handily-compact guidebook for anyone travelling to the South West and on the hunt for some solace in blue spaces. It is illustrated with beautiful landscapes from photographers as well as from Lewis’ own dips. And, I can confirm, the pages have so far survived water splashes aplenty!
When contributors to The Great Outdoors aren’t out walking, some like to relax with a good book. Read their outdoor book reviews and discover your next adventurous tale.
