Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Topic started by: David Martin on 04 August, 2010, 09:02:02 am

Title: Wild swimming
Post by: David Martin on 04 August, 2010, 09:02:02 am
Thoroughly enjoyed the Wild Swimming with Alice program last night.

If I could work out how to add a poll I'd set one up but a quick survey..

Have you wild swum:

in a river?

in a large freshwater lake?

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

in really cold water?

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

in a cave?

in the buff?


For me the answer is yes to all but the last.. The cave was the most eerie (Kingsdale Master cave - the taller guys I was with could just about still walk on the bottom.)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Tim on 04 August, 2010, 09:06:30 am
Yes to the above. Though not always intentionally. (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wJb4KvRGBw8/Sl5q3ZrqfjI/AAAAAAAAAIY/5DKodwMuRxM/DSC02798.JPG)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Polar Bear on 04 August, 2010, 09:10:59 am
Regularly take a dip when on tour, usually in the buff.   Coniston Water was the coldest dip I've taken - it was bloody awful.       

I was fortunate enough to enjoy free swimming (disabled) but this gubbishment have removed this benefit.   A friend suggested that we take a dip in the river Avon instead!
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: andygates on 04 August, 2010, 09:31:52 am
>in a river?

As a kid, yes, "the bathers" was a swim spot on the Isis near where I grew up.  As an adult, some triathlon training in the Huntspill, which is a dredged-out 1km lane.

>in a large freshwater lake?

Do tri races count?

>in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

Jura. Round the back. Lovely.  Waterfall.  Midges waiting in ambush.

>in really cold water?

All of the above plus the sea!  A swim wetsuit is good when it's really low, but I aspire to being a Polar Bear.  Coldest was April in Somerset, water about 8 degrees, we got ice-cream headaches in our knees and ankles as well as heads!

>in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

Ah, no.   Not this one.

>in a cave?

*wistful sigh*

>in the buff?

Murky water ftw.   O:-)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: nicknack on 04 August, 2010, 09:32:59 am
All apart from the cave. Hmm... perhaps I should remedy that. Plenty of times when it's been really cold, but not for long.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: David Martin on 04 August, 2010, 09:35:59 am
Really cold water: A pool with ice floating on it in the Dolomites (in July).  By the clattern bridge in Little Langdale when there was still snow on the peaks. (get in, swim across, get out sharpish. That was really cold.. Then have to repeat to get back.)

Rivers various. Thames (near Kingston), Axe, Otter and a few others. Rockpools are great - especially big ones like on the Gower.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: mattc on 04 August, 2010, 09:43:15 am
Never*n

I am a very poor swimmer. I would love to tell my childhood self that learning to swim could lead to stuff like this [swimming with hot naked scientists].
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Regulator on 04 August, 2010, 09:43:56 am
Yes to all.

Skinnydipping is in the Kiwi blood...  ;D
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Woofage on 04 August, 2010, 09:49:44 am
I swam in a river in Scotland once. Bloody freezing it was!

Never been *proper* skinny dipping, but if Alice Roberts invited me I would probably accept :demon:.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: numbnuts on 04 August, 2010, 09:50:44 am
I'm not a pervert, but I love swimming in the nude it becomes.... well sort of sexual
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: nicknack on 04 August, 2010, 09:50:58 am
Never been *proper* skinny dipping, but if Alice Roberts invited me I would probably accept :demon:.

In really cold water?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Frenchie on 04 August, 2010, 09:51:59 am
BBC News - No diving? No bombing? No rules swimming (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10852394)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Gruff on 04 August, 2010, 09:55:26 am
As a kid, yes. My friends and I swam here over several summers:

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46598000/jpg/_46598403_hargreavesdarleyabbeyweir.jpg)

There was a bridge to jump off, a little island to swim out to and explore, and you could also scoot down the half pipe type weir section on your arse, which was fun. We had a rope swing set up slightly further down out of view, so you could swing over from the bank and splash-land into the river. Good times.

I've wild swum only once as an adult- summer picnic with my girl, we stripped off and went for a swim in the river we were next to. Also good times.

Many adults nowadays seem petrified to let children near water, which seems a shame.

I'm discounting the water skiing and (very) little bit of scuba diving I've done on inland waters, whihc obviously involved plenty of swimming.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: andygates on 04 August, 2010, 10:01:00 am
They won't learn how to behanve near water unless they're exposed to it! 

Must must must get into the cold-conditioning this winter.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 August, 2010, 10:01:21 am
There's a photo of me somewhere swimming in Glen Nevis in 1968. Despite being an unusually hot and dry summer in Scotland, there was still plenty of snow on the top. That was cold. I was 14. I was 21 before I saw my goolies again.

I have swum at Lake Meadows in Billericay when I was about 18. It was about 3 o'clock on a sultry August morning. I was carp fishing with a pal and we just decided to do it. It was also my first skinny dip and we didn't swim back for some reason, but walked starkers round the shore for almost a quarter of a mile to where our clothes were.

I have also swum in Abberton Reservoir to retrieve an item of fishing tackle that had blown into the water.

The coldest water I remember swimming in was at Mellon Udrigle in NW Scotland. In fact I'm not sure I actually swam - I think perhaps I got in to about knee depth and my feet were numb with cold and terribly painful. This was about 4 years ago and it was a lovely warm day. Later in the day we had some excellent swimming a few miles round the coast at Gairloch. So probably my 14-year-old swim in Glen Nevis was the coldest.

There was a monster rock pool at one of the Pembrokeshire beaches we went to, I think, although it may have been Gower. It was about 20 yards wide, 50 yards long and probably 12 feet deep in places. Wonderful!

Not in a cave, sadly.

In the buff on innumerable occasions. It's got to the point that I really resent wearing a cossie.

I wanted to do the Fairy Pools on Skye when we were there last April, but we were only at Glenbrittle for one night and we were pretty knackered from the journey in and didn't have time in the morning.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Greenbank on 04 August, 2010, 10:01:38 am
Punt bombing Swimming in the River Cam almost every weekend summer after summer (by Jesus Green or by the little pool round the back of Newnham including jumping in from the bridge). Now there are just signs about Weil's Disease/Leptospirosis.

Also the river in the village (part of the Cam or Rhee according to the OS map), with a steep weir which was a challenge to run across (and painful if you slipped part way).

Several large lakes in the US (Lake Perry, Lake Clinton, Lake of the Ozarks). Nahuel Huapi (next to Bariloche) in Argentina (that was quite bloody cold as it was fed by glaciers!). A waist high dip in Lago Nordenskjold half way round a 5 day trek of Torres del Paine.

No caves, no bloody chance.

Swam with penguins on Boulder's Beach in Simonstown, South Africa, that was fun.

Brother-in-Law keeps talking about hiring a boat to watch over us as we try and swim round the Quies off Trevose Head in Cornwall and back to shore but I'm guessing that it's far more dangerous than it looks and I'd need to put in a lot of work to get in shape for a 1 mile sea swim.

The SwimTrek holidays have always grabbed my interest but I doubt I'll ever get a chance to do any. Mrs G likes a dip in a pool but not 2-3 hour swims each day.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: αdαmsκι on 04 August, 2010, 10:09:17 am
in a river?

Yes, loads of times. Summer during my childhood was spent swimming in the rivers around the Lake District. The last time was on Arran in May (or should that be in the beck section).  Oh, and some river in the pampas of Bolivia where there were pink dolphins.


in a large freshwater lake?

From memory I've swam in Bassenthwaite & Ullswater. Probably more, too. Ah, yeah - Lake Malawi - that's pretty big. Oh, and the reservoir in the Peneda-Gerês National Park in Portugal was lovely too, if one ignored the no swimming signs.


in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

The last was at Easter when I'd been climbing in Turkey, it was baking hot and there was a small river following past the crag. I've swam in a number of the tarns, too, the last time being about a year ago when I went up to Scoat Tarn on a fieldtrip. Swam loads of times in the tiny ponds that are scattered across the Badain Jaran Desert (China) when I was on fieldwork 'cos it was the easiest way to collect samples, and clean yourself too.


in really cold water?

Ullswater in November was pretty cold. The Atlantic off the Dingle Peninsular I remember being nippy too. The River Derwent on Boxing Day was cold too, but at least I had a wet suit that day (tho I'd have been better off staying in the kayak).


in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?
Will have done at some point


in a cave?
No. I'll have to change that at some point


in the buff?
Shocking behavior O:-). So far, only twice this year.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: αdαmsκι on 04 August, 2010, 10:13:01 am
>in the buff?

Murky water ftw.   O:-)

Or at night.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: woollypigs on 04 August, 2010, 10:13:16 am
If I can I will swim in it. Not so keen on swimming pools the sea is where it is at. Rivers and lakes can be done but is mostly to clam for me.

The next time I'm in Paris I have been invited to swim in the lake under the opera house, for the heck of it I would do it :)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: peliroja on 04 August, 2010, 10:18:41 am
Rivers and lakes can be done but is mostly to clam for me.
Je ne comprends pas woollyese.  ;)  ???
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Martin109 on 04 August, 2010, 10:20:32 am
The best thing around Woolly is to try and stay clam at all times.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Greenbank on 04 August, 2010, 10:20:46 am
I've watched my brother swim from Alcatraz to Marina Green as part of the Alcatraz Triathlon. I thought about entering the next year for about 3msec before coming to my senses.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Chris N on 04 August, 2010, 10:21:43 am
> in a river?

Lots of times in Elan, Wye, Yswyth and Marteg when I was a kid in Mid Wales

> in a large freshwater lake?

Elan Resevoirs (norty!), Clywedog res., some lakes in the Jotunheimen national park in Norway

> in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

Again, in the Jotunheimen and some of the smaller pools in the Elan Valley

> in really cold water?

Not icy cold, but Mid Wales in July ain't warm.

>in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

Does a fjord count?

> in a cave?

Nope

> in the buff?

Nope

What about the sea, does that count as wild swimming?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Tim on 04 August, 2010, 10:22:53 am
If I can I will swim in it. Not so keen on swimming pools the sea is where it is at. Rivers and lakes can be done but is mostly to clam for me.
I much prefer swimming in fresh water to salt. Lake Garda is probably the largest expanse of fresh water I've swum in and was akin to the sea on a mill pond like day due to the scale of it but on getting out there was none of that sticky feeling.

For cold - glacial melt water (Alpine) has been the chilliest (see link upthread for out of kayak experiences), though I did go for a quick dip about six yards from the end of a glacier (I've forgotten which it was) having hiked up to it - I think that qualified as refreshing.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: bobb on 04 August, 2010, 10:24:28 am
All except a cave.

I've only got 20 minutes into Alice's programme on iPlayer so far. I had to pause it to go for a wank...
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: urban_biker on 04 August, 2010, 10:26:50 am
All except a cave.

I've only got 20 minutes into Alice's programme on iPlayer so far. I had to pause it to go for a wank...

You're a very rude man - but I laughed out loud  ;D
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Greenbank on 04 August, 2010, 10:27:53 am
All except a cave.

I've only got 20 minutes into Alice's programme on iPlayer so far. I had to pause it to go for a wank...

Careful you don't shake any bolts loose.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Woofage on 04 August, 2010, 11:07:26 am
All except a cave.

I've only got 20 minutes into Alice's programme on iPlayer so far. I had to pause it to go for a wank...

You're a very rude man - but I laughed out loud  ;D

Indeed. Keep it up! It's not often I share snippets of yACF with anyone, but I had to tell Mrs W about that one (and your recent post in Members Photos).
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: woollypigs on 04 August, 2010, 11:29:16 am
Just watched the first 15min of the program. It is funny to hear her explain things I take to be so natural, just something you do.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 August, 2010, 11:50:27 am
I love the quote "breaking the rules and doing something naughty". That's the essence of liberation, whether it's cycling, wild camping, wild swimming. No rules, no regulations, just perfect freedom.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Regulator on 04 August, 2010, 12:21:56 pm
Regularly take a dip when on tour, usually in the buff.   Coniston Water was the coldest dip I've taken - it was bloody awful.       

I was fortunate enough to enjoy free swimming (disabled) but this gubbishment have removed this benefit.   A friend suggested that we take a dip in the river Avon instead!

Just for clarification, the free swimming for people over 60 (and under 18 if they wished) was a national programme, with additional central government funding of £60 million from April 2009 to March 2011, that was open to all councils to sign up to.  Councils could also opt to extend the free swimming to other groups, such as those with diabilities.

However, not all council's chose to sign up to the scheme - about 20% of eligible councils didn't sign up and not all extended the scheme to under 18s or the disabled  - in which case eligible people were able to swim in pools provided by other councils who had signed up.  Many councils didn't sign up until the programme had been running for some length of time.

Council who had already been (in 2008/09) providing free swimming for both age groups were allocated £10 million worth of 'one off' grants to improve their facilities.  The other £50 million was for capital grants in 2009/10 and 2010/11 for ' new sign up' councils to modernise existing facilities or help build new ones.  There was also some additional funding to provide 100,000 free swimming lessons.

The current financial crisis has meant that the 2010/11 central capital projects funding is no longer available to new sign ups. 

Councils are perfectly able to continue to offer concessionary prices or free swims to particular groups - and many are continuing to do so.  Some have applied for NHS funding to defray any additional costs.

Council are quick to blame the government for 'withdrawing funding' - but  it should be borne in mind that this was never meant to be ongoing or permanent funding, but short term capital funding to improve facilities.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: andygates on 04 August, 2010, 12:54:24 pm
Schweppes are currently doing a free-swim-with-a-bottlecap promotion ("Schwim") - one of the TriTalk massive in an impecunious state has got his season's training in by bottlecap donations. 
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: onb on 04 August, 2010, 04:29:44 pm
Thoroughly enjoyed the Wild Swimming with Alice program last night.

If I could work out how to add a poll I'd set one up but a quick survey..

Have you wild swum:

in a river?

in a large freshwater lake?

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

in really cold water?

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

in a cave?

in the buff?


For me the answer is yes to all but the last.. The cave was the most eerie (Kingsdale Master cave - the taller guys I was with could just about still walk on the bottom.)


Considered wisdom for SAs in Rowten Sumps is keep to the left. ::-) Thats on the way in BTW





Yes
yes
No
Yes
no
Yes
Yes
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: David Martin on 04 August, 2010, 04:32:35 pm

For me the answer is yes to all but the last.. The cave was the most eerie (Kingsdale Master cave - the taller guys I was with could just about still walk on the bottom.)


Considered wisdom for SAs in Rowten Sumps is keep to the left. ::-) Thats on the way in BTW

Not sure which way we went in. Through a couple of barrels covered with a dustbin lid fairly near the road, along a passage that was walkable for me (just) but the tall guys had to stoop. Down a ladder into the stream, and then it got deeper till I was swimming. We turned round before the sump.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: itsbruce on 04 August, 2010, 04:40:23 pm
Thoroughly enjoyed the Wild Swimming with Alice program last night.

If I could work out how to add a poll I'd set one up but a quick survey..

Have you wild swum:

in a river?

in a large freshwater lake?

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

in really cold water?

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

in a cave?

in the buff?


All of the above.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Zoidburg on 04 August, 2010, 04:48:29 pm
Just don't swim or in particular go jumping/diving in an old quarry.

Death on a stick, the one that sticks in my mind is Cosmeston in south wales, every summer you would go to your grans in Penarth and every summer some bugger would drown in Cosmeston while you were there.

Having said that my grans neighbour was partial to taking a daily swim in the bristol channel - year round.

I have swam in most kinds of water but never a cave - as a very small sprog I can still remember when Penarth swimming baths were filled with unheated sea water.

Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Wobbly John on 04 August, 2010, 04:49:23 pm
All apart from large freshwater lake.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: mike on 04 August, 2010, 04:57:53 pm
all except a cave. The coldest I've been was in the north sea on easter day when it was sleeting, I had to stay in (swimming) for 2 minutes to win a 50p bet with my dad.   I won, then blew the lot on the 2p shove machines in the arcade at Felixtowe.

Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Greenbank on 04 August, 2010, 05:30:50 pm
all except a cave. The coldest I've been was in the north sea on easter day when it was sleeting, I had to stay in (swimming) for 2 minutes to win a 50p bet with my dad.   I won, then blew the lot on the 2p shove machines in the arcade at Felixtowe.

Felixstowe? I would have stayed in the water.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: dkahn400 on 04 August, 2010, 06:04:04 pm
Have you wild swum:

in a river?

The Thames at various points from its upper reaches to as far downstream as Richmond. Various other rivers and streams mainly when cycle touring. The Susquehanna in Pennsylvania though this doesn't count as wild swimming as it was an official swimming "beach".

in a large freshwater lake?

Does the boating lake at Dorney Reach count? A sprint tri is not really wild swimming, is it?

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

A few mountain lakes in Norway. Fabulously clean, clear and cold water. More of an inlet really, darkish but not totally underground dark.

in really cold water?

The sea has probably been the coldest. Even in a swimming pool when I used to swim every day as a ten year old. The lifeguard told me to get out as I had turned blue. Not wild swimming of course, and nowhere with ice in the water.

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

No.

in a cave?

In Greece in a cave accessible only by boat. Not in a cave as in properly underground.

in the buff?

Long hot summer of '74 in the US.  :-)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: rogerzilla on 04 August, 2010, 06:37:43 pm
I first learned to swim without armbands at Frensham Ponds  :)

The best place I've swum was Lake Geneva, technically Lac Leman because it was near Evian.  It's crystal clear down that end, and if you dive underwater with a mask or goggles you can see for a huge distance.  I saw a big pike looking back at me  :o  The Zeller See is also good, but absolutely freezing because it's fed by mountain streams.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Barnsdale on 04 August, 2010, 07:49:48 pm
I've only recently got into wild swimming as a spin off from triathlon:

in a river?

Thames, Eden in Cumbria

in a large freshwater lake?

Annecy in France - best swimming place that I've been to, Ullswater, Windermere

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

Not yet, but it's gotta happen

in really cold water?

Ah.  Err, no.  And being a wimp, I probably won't.

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

No

in a cave?

No

in the buff?

Yes...

Semi-wild would include Highgate men's pond - which feels pretty wild once you are in and racing moor hens.  The Serpentine isn't wild above water but is pretty weedy below. 

Dorney Lake, the lake at Blenheim, but they don't count as they were in a tri.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Gruff on 04 August, 2010, 07:54:03 pm
Just don't swim or in particular go jumping/diving in an old quarry.

Death on a stick, the one that sticks in my mind is Cosmeston in south wales, every summer you would go to your grans in Penarth and every summer some bugger would drown in Cosmeston while you were there

Why is this?

I often seem to read about some unfortunate soul drowning in a quarry, but what's so dangerous about quarry water? Yes, it's colder because of the depth and volume, but is that it? People swim in very cold water all the time without trouble, so why are quarrys so dangerous?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Zoidburg on 04 August, 2010, 08:04:30 pm
Just don't swim or in particular go jumping/diving in an old quarry.

Death on a stick, the one that sticks in my mind is Cosmeston in south wales, every summer you would go to your grans in Penarth and every summer some bugger would drown in Cosmeston while you were there

Why is this?

I often seem to read about some unfortunate soul drowning in a quarry, but what's so dangerous about quarry water? Yes, it's colder because of the depth and volume, but is that it? People swim in very cold water all the time without trouble, so why are quarrys so dangerous?
Quarry water has hidden rocks and stolen cars in it.

Dive in.

Break neck.

Most quarries are chemicaly dead as well with no life just very clear water, I think the clear water combined with hugely variable depth must do some funny things with convection and currents when the sun is fierce, which also happens to be the summer which is when people get tempted to jump in.

A quick search makes for depressing reading.

BBC - Search (http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?go=toolbar&tab=all&q=quarry%20drowning&scope=all&start=1)

Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Andrij on 04 August, 2010, 08:13:30 pm
in a river?
A number of times, always the same river.

in a large freshwater lake?
In a few.  It this one (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Erie) large enough?  ;D

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?
Not yet.

in really cold water?
Subjective.  I've swum in water I found quite cold, but nothing coming close on the 'daft' scale.

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?
Not yet.

in a cave?
Not yet.

in the buff?
Often.
 
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 August, 2010, 08:18:40 pm
I am a very poor and reluctant swimmer, but oddly the only items on the survey I can say yes to are the cave and the lagoon. It just happens that they were both on the same occasion, and the water was Samoa-warm, otherwise I'm sure I'd say no to all.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: andygates on 04 August, 2010, 10:21:57 pm
There's a lot of skinnydippers here.  Is it this common or are we all flashers?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Zoidburg on 04 August, 2010, 10:35:09 pm
There's a lot of skinnydippers here.  Is it this common or are we all flashers?
It depends on if you do it in the public swimming baths or not.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: αdαmsκι on 04 August, 2010, 11:04:09 pm
There's a lot of skinnydippers here.  Is it this common or are we all flashers?

Whereas I find it odd that some people have never been skinny dipping at least once in their life. However, that's probably more of a reflection on what I consider normal.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Regulator on 05 August, 2010, 06:51:34 am
There's a lot of skinnydippers here.  Is it this common or are we all flashers?

It's genetic in New Zealanders....  ;)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Regulator on 05 August, 2010, 06:52:26 am
....

in the buff?
Often.
 

Really?  Can a hairy man like you ever really be in the buff?   :P ;D
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 August, 2010, 10:08:10 am
Skinny dipping is the natural state. It's not just Antipodeans who have it in their genes - it even affects the bloodstock from Thurrock. :P

The determination to hide one's genitals is a Victorian throwback, in my view. There are few cultures so prudish as the British. I nearly said English but then remembered the Scots police's treatment of the Edinburgh WNBR and the Naked Rambler, who, IIRC, had a lot more trouble north of the border than he did south of it.

It seems to me that in Wales people are a lot more relaxed about beach nudity. I know of only one accredited nudist beach, just north of Barmouth (I hope to be on it next week) but there are lots of little sandy coves where at certain times of day, when there are few people about, skinny dipping is a delight. Also, on some of the bigger beaches (Porth Neigl, Rhosilli, Marloes and Newgale) there's a tendency for a minority of people to swim and sunbathe nude and no-one seems to mind.

I think that a bit of communal non-sexual nudity and body freedom helps a lot in friendships. It brings a level of trust that is missing when part of you is always hidden.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Andrij on 05 August, 2010, 10:23:16 am
There's a lot of skinnydippers here.  Is it this common or are we all flashers?
It depends on if you do it in the public swimming baths or not.

Ignoring the 'flashing' aspect, Zoidburg has a point.  If people only ever swim in public pools, then odds are they will never swim au naturel (this being generally frowned upon).

Private pools, wild swimming and after-hours swimming (for example, if one happened to break into the hotel pool & jacuzzi at 3 am...  ::-) ) give you the option.

Yes, I'll swim in the buff, even in broad daylight and clear water.  But I won't do a WNBR.

 
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: jogler on 05 August, 2010, 10:23:37 am
skinny dipping..is it a load of bollox?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: clarion on 05 August, 2010, 10:25:05 am
I like swimming in the sea.  I'm not a good swimmer at all, but I do like it.  I took swimming lessons when I went to University at 27 in order that I might improve from just being able to save myself from a canal to swimming for fun and health.  I am told that it is a very good exercise for asthmatics, and, if I were able to endure the tedium of plodding up & down a swimming pool, it would be great for my breathing and my rather underdeveloped upper body strength (at least in comparison with my legs).

I do struggle with cold water.  I don't feel the cold as much as most people, and I have fairly cold showers, but entering cold water can quickly give me an asthma attack, which makes me less inclined to do so.

I've also tended to worry about all my stuff being nicked while I'm in the water.  Overly so, maybe, but I rode alone, and being isolated without my kit would be a concern.

Thirdly, I've not enjoyed swimming because of my size and body image, ever since I took a lot of steroids when a teenager.  They kept me alive, but they did make me put on a lot of weight very quickly at a very sensitive time.

That said, we went for a lovely ride with the Clarion last year, down past Ford in Sussex, and we had a swim in the sea then.  It was brilliant.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: bobb on 05 August, 2010, 10:26:39 am
When I was a kid we always used to holiday in Dorset as my grandparents lived there. Studland beach was full of naked people. Don't know if it still is or is an "official" nudest beach....
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 August, 2010, 10:32:29 am
Studland United Nudists: Fighting nudist harassment (http://www.studland-nudists.co.uk/) implies that Studlans is still used by people, some of whom choose to wear clothes even when swimming.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Regulator on 05 August, 2010, 11:08:46 am
There's a lot of skinnydippers here.  Is it this common or are we all flashers?
It depends on if you do it in the public swimming baths or not.

If you go to Rotarua the public swimming baths, which are geothermal hot pools, are 'no swimming cozzies'*






*the water rots them v. quickly.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: numbnuts on 05 August, 2010, 11:54:03 am
I have been to Studland beach many time it is very nice, I also have two other beaches near me Calshot and Hill Head, both are shingle, but haven't been there this year must take a trip out before the summer ends
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Bledlow on 05 August, 2010, 11:46:12 pm
When did swimming other than in a pool become 'wild swimming'? I thought it was just swimming.

Yes to all the questions in the OP except the cave, and depending on ones definition of 'really cold'. Definitely yes to in the buff. I don't like wet cloth clinging to me, although I tolerate it when socially required.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: clarion on 06 August, 2010, 09:10:02 am
It became wild swimming when they wanted to 'sex it up' and sell books, TV progs etc.

Yes, it's just swimming.  Of the sort your mum would have ticked you off for if she'd found out.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: bobb on 06 August, 2010, 09:25:35 am
Or because we've gone health and safety mad in this country (sorry, sounds a bit Wail) so "Swimming" means paying money to go and swim up and down a hole filled with chlorinated water.

When my good friend from Minnesota (which has over a thousand lakes) came to visit a few years ago, we were walking through town and passed a sign saying "Swimming Pool ->" She said "Is there a lake around here then?" The concept of paying to go for a swim in a man made pool was completely alien to her.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Tim Hall on 06 August, 2010, 09:37:40 am
Thoroughly enjoyed the Wild Swimming with Alice program last night.

If I could work out how to add a poll I'd set one up but a quick survey..

Have you wild swum:

in a river?


Yes, misc times in France.

Quote
in a large freshwater lake?
Umm, don't think so. Ooh, hang on, yes. Lago di Garda.

Quote
in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?
One of those tarns on the way back from Pulpit Rock in the land of the Wikings. I was over there for the oil exhibition and had a day sight seeing, so went with Mrs. Hall, customer and his wife. Having looked over the edge of Pulpit Rock we made our way back and I decided a swim was a good idea. Customer's wife suggsted I swim "with nothing" but I kept my shreddies in place.

Quote
in really cold water?
No.

Quote
in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?
in a cave?
No and no.
Quote
in the buff?
Indeed. One time,  blimey, 1980 I reckon, a massed skinny dip with the Venture Scouts on holiday at St Jean de Luz. Strip off, run into the oggin. One bloke tripped and caught his todger on a rock.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: jogler on 06 August, 2010, 09:40:46 am
. One bloke tripped and caught his todger on a rock.


perhaps he now has a job as a petrol pump?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: dkahn400 on 06 August, 2010, 12:06:54 pm
Or because we've gone health and safety mad in this country (sorry, sounds a bit Wail) so "Swimming" means paying money to go and swim up and down a hole filled with chlorinated water.

When my good friend from Minnesota (which has over a thousand lakes) came to visit a few years ago, we were walking through town and passed a sign saying "Swimming Pool ->" She said "Is there a lake around here then?" The concept of paying to go for a swim in a man made pool was completely alien to her.

I'd forgotten Lake Calhoun Beach in Minneapolis where I spent much of the long hot summer of 1974. I can remember running round the lake on several occasions and I remember a judo contest held on the beach (officiating rather than competing due to severe sunburn) but I can't recall an actual instance of swimming in the lake though I'm sure I must have at some point.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Bledlow on 07 August, 2010, 02:09:21 am
Or because we've gone health and safety mad in this country (sorry, sounds a bit Wail) so "Swimming" means paying money to go and swim up and down a hole filled with chlorinated water.

When my good friend from Minnesota (which has over a thousand lakes) came to visit a few years ago, we were walking through town and passed a sign saying "Swimming Pool ->" She said "Is there a lake around here then?" The concept of paying to go for a swim in a man made pool was completely alien to her.
A bit like Finland, then. I remember wandering round that country in the summer of 1980 with a lesbian* & a small tent (as one does), & every campsite we ended up at was next to a lake, in which it appeared to be compulsory to swim.

Deceptive, lakes in northern climes in June. Dip in toe. Water is quite a comfortable temperature. Leap in. Discover the thermocline 10cm or so below the surface. Above - tolerable. Below - AAAARRRRRGGGHHHH! ME NUTS ARE FREEZING OFFFF!!!!

*She e-mailed me today, so I can't have annoyed her too much.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Tourist Tony on 07 August, 2010, 03:38:13 am
Thoroughly enjoyed the Wild Swimming with Alice program last night.

If I could work out how to add a poll I'd set one up but a quick survey..

Have you wild swum:

in a river?

in a large freshwater lake?

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

in really cold water?

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

in a cave?

in the buff?


For me the answer is yes to all but the last.. The cave was the most eerie (Kingsdale Master cave - the taller guys I was with could just about still walk on the bottom.)
In a river? Many, many times, in many rivers, from the Highlands south.
Large freshwater lake?  Dittol a fave memory is the Llynau Mymbyr in the 1976 heatwave., and both Vanern and Vattern (spelling limited by typeface) in Sweden, the Zeller See in Austria, and so on.
Small beck? Again many times. There is a pool on the Afon Ogwen below the falls and only visible from top decks of coaches...and then there are the pools by the ford on the Lairig Eilde off Glencoe. Does the Dove in Dovedale count?
Really cold water? May 1st off Studland beach, and my second time in the Lairig Eilde burn. I thought my heart was going to stop.
Rock pools? Again, many times, in several oceans.
Cave---Smoo Cave near Durness.
In the buff? Loads of places from the Med through Brighton after last year's WNBR to the aforementioned two mountain streams.

I would add another: volcanic crater lake, Lake Eacham in Queensland.

Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: peliroja on 07 August, 2010, 03:16:44 pm
Going back to the programme, does anyone else think Roger Deakin's voice is identical to that of Bill Nighy?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: citoyen on 07 August, 2010, 05:37:27 pm
When did swimming other than in a pool become 'wild swimming'? I thought it was just swimming.

My thoughts entirely. There's an article in the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/07/ian-jack-on-wild-swimming) today about wild swimming. Basically, it's just yet another middle-class fad, like cupcakes or holidaying in a yurt.

In answer to the OP, all except swimming in a cave. I might have even done that but I can't recall doing so. It's all just swimming. I think the coldest water I've swum in was in the Lake District, but I can't remember which lake - possibly Derwentwater.

I don't swim naked as a rule but mainly to avoid offending others rather than prudery on my part. Last time I went skinny dipping was at a party at a friend's house - her garden leads directly onto the beach and someone decided it would be a good idea to go for a swim, so several of us did. And none of us had brought appropriate attire.

All this talk of nude/wild swimming makes me think of the swimming scene in A Room With A View (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCznsjnrQ2A).

d.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Zoidburg on 07 August, 2010, 05:49:04 pm
I did see a piece on country file or whatever it is called now about a chap up in the lakes who had taken to "lake orienteering" which means hiking with dry bag to stuff your clothes in and then swimming any lakes that get in the way of your route - trying to take in any islands on the way.

That looked kind of fun a and a bit more sensible as you had the bag as a flotation aid in case you got in trouble.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: andrew_s on 07 August, 2010, 09:31:02 pm
> in a river?
across the Rio Grande, plus assorted others

> in a large freshwater lake?
Loch Trool, somewhere in Germany

> in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?
don't think so

> in really cold water?
in the sea, water temp -1.4 or thereabouts, going slushy (wearing a wetsuit).

> in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?
don't think so

> in a cave?
Porth yr Ogof resurgence pool, in which 10 people have drowned according to Wikipedia
(also Spain, Ireland)
 
> in the buff?
Scottish sea

and just as an extra, water somewhat deeper than two miles, approximately on the equator on the way back from Rio.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Bledlow on 08 August, 2010, 12:28:22 am
> in a river?
across the Rio Grande, plus assorted others
Which Rio Grande?
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: padbeat on 08 August, 2010, 12:24:33 pm
There used to be a raft rase across Bangor Bay in NI that we used to enter every year in the Scouts - that invariably ended with a swim in the Irish Sea in April ... the New Year's Day swim in Rhu Marina is like being punched in the chest by God ...

There used to be a tradition of 'Hands to Bathe' on submarines before everybody got all safety conscious. If you weren't covert the CO would surface the boat and make the pipe. In one patrol many years ago I swam in the middle of the Med about 100 miles north of Lybia, in the Red Sea, in the Indian Ocean on the equator about 1000 miles from anywhere, South China Sea, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and the N Atlantic.

One of the things with that is that the boat posts a 'Sharkwatch' on the top of the Fin - a guy with an SA80 rifle and a pair of binoculars. We always told the new guys that he had no chance of hitting a shark - too fast and too hard to see - so what he's do if he spotted one was to shoot the sailor furthest out from the boat to give the others a chance to get back. Cruel, but very funny to see them clinging limpet-like to the hull.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: wafflycat on 08 August, 2010, 12:33:19 pm


Have you wild swum:

in a river?

A very small, quiet one.


in a large freshwater lake?


Yes, Lake District


in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?


No


in really cold water?


Isn't it all unless it's a heated pool?


in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?


Yes


in a cave?

No


in the buff?

Good grief, no. It'd send the natives screaming for mind-bleach..


I'm a poor swimmer, so I pick my swimming spots very carefully.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Quisling on 05 January, 2012, 11:23:05 am
I'm aiming to swim across these http://www.chirk.com/aqueduct.html The Pontcysyllte aqueduct in particular is 1000+ feet in length and offers a giddying view down across the valley.  Probably need to get it done before all the summer canal boat activity.  I might see about doing it in the inflatable canoe too sometime.

On new year's day I swam in Llyn Padarn in Llanberis, looking up at the mountains.  It was lovely, and at 8C a touch bracing, though entirely pleasant in a wetsuit.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Domestique on 05 January, 2012, 11:31:04 am
We stayed at a couple of amazing small campsites in Holland last year, each having natural swimming.
One was a smallish pond but with a lovely soft sand base, the other was a rather large fresh water lake. In both it was lovely to see so many children swimming and having fun.
Btw swimming after a day in the saddle is lovely  :)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: andrew_s on 05 January, 2012, 02:38:19 pm
> in a river?
across the Rio Grande, plus assorted others
Which Rio Grande?
The one that forms the Mexico/Texas border, though I swam across it further upstream than that, in Colorado
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 January, 2012, 03:35:58 pm
The revival of this thread has reminded me to update my swimming CV.

29th September 2011 - skinny dipping in the river Chelmer! This was the first of 5 days in which the temperature exceeded 80°F in Essex.

3rd October 2011 - skinny dipping at Westcliff sea front. The sun was setting and there was no way anyone could see me beneath the surface. I had my knickers draped on an arm for donning on beaching.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 05 January, 2012, 06:42:45 pm
> in a river?
across the Rio Grande, plus assorted others
Which Rio Grande?
The one that forms the Mexico/Texas border, though I swam across it further upstream than that, in Colorado
For the avoidance of getting shot!
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Salvatore on 05 January, 2012, 06:49:28 pm
I missed this thread first time, so:

rivers:
only the Urubamba and the Niger

freshwater lakes:
Loch Valley (overlooked by the Rig of the Jarkness). While I was paddling in Llyn y Fan Fawr and nuncio took a swim, I saw a leech emerge from under a rock.

Small mountain tarn:
No but one day I intend to dip in the small loch on the island on Loch Enoch.

Really cold water:
The coldest was an open-air pool* on a clifftop the north on Madeira. I managed 1 length (about 5 metres) before getting out, running indoors and reviving under a warm shower. I don't think I would have survived another length.

Caves:
no

I don't know what category it comes under, but I did have a moonlit dip in the warm springs at Aguas Calientes, nr Machu Picchu



* I know, I know, not really 'wild'.

During one swim from a fishing boat off the Mauritanian coast I ended up having to be rescued by this boat (on the right)
(http://farm1.staticflickr.com/108/315168601_9c5b1ebc1d_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnspooner/315168601/)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: why1040 on 05 January, 2012, 10:47:29 pm
Coming from Sweden, the notion of wild swimming really isn't that odd...

I've swum in the ocean from small islands in the archipelago that have noone living on them, from boats, etc.  At times I've had to use "swimming" to get clean due to a lack of shower facilities on islands.  I think the coldest I've ever been was at camp on Långholmen (not the prison one), where it was about 10 degrees in the air and less than 7 in the water.  The weekend over Easter I was there when it was below freezing in the air and less than +1 in the water, I used baby wipes...

I've swum in small and large ponds and rivers, both in the Stockholm suburbs and in the mountains.  We had a lake not far from where we lived both times round that was a popular unofficial swimming hole...find a good rock and hop in!

As often as not wearing Notalot as it's really not a big deal.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 05 January, 2012, 10:49:17 pm
I missed it 1st time round, I think.

I'm sure I've done all of the list, including the cave (but can't think where that was). Probably a shallow sea-cave somewhere.

Coldest would have been the Ouse, in winter with ice on the river. Several times - once for recreation (I decided to do a 5mile jog, then shortcut home by swimming across the river - felted wool jumpers are amazingly waterproof).
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: bikesdontfloat on 06 January, 2012, 05:19:57 pm
Just for clarification - does this include "involuntary" swimming where you find yourself thrown in/falling out of a perfectly serviceable boat?  If so that helps up my count.

in a river?

I've swum in the Thames a few times (not usually voluntarily) as well as a river in the Golan Heights.  There have probably been other but these are the ones that come to mind.

in a large freshwater lake?

There are some great freshwater lakes near Bordeaux that I've swum in.  An inadvertent mouthful of water swallowed mid-lake actually tasted better than the stuff coming out of the campsite taps.

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn?

Not that I can think of.

in really cold water?

After parting company with my single scull one February wearing just lycra.  The water can't have been much above freezing and felt so cold it burned.  I was close enough to the edge that swimming for it while towing the boat behind me was the least bad option.

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon?

Nope

in a cave?

and no again.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: mike on 06 January, 2012, 05:30:23 pm
Just for clarification - does this include "involuntary" swimming where you find yourself thrown in/falling out of a perfectly serviceable boat?  If so that helps up my count.

in really cold water?

After parting company with my single scull one February wearing just lycra.  The water can't have been much above freezing and felt so cold it burned.  I was close enough to the edge that swimming for it while towing the boat behind me was the least bad option.


+1 for the above, more than once.  Worst was when I was about mile from home (out at Ely) and had to get back in and paddle home into a headwind.  I dont remember my hands and feet ever being that cold.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Efrogwr on 06 January, 2012, 06:53:51 pm
No to most of them, but I once tried a trip through the Little Neath River Cave. There's a bedding plane crawl that's usually half full of water. The water level started to rise, so we abandoned the trip...

I've never been in a cave since.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: marcusjb on 08 January, 2012, 11:14:08 am
I managed most of them over Christmas over in Sumatra.  We swam in volcanic lakes (Lake Toba - biggest volcanic lake in the world), rivers in the rainforest (lack of showers made this quite essential), little isolated coves with waterfalls etc., Indian Ocean (warmest sea I have ever swum in, did some great snorkelling as well) - it was all fabulous (and a lot warmer than wild swimming here in the UK!).

I have never swum in a cave mind (the thought is quite scary to me!), and can't recall swimming in a small mountain tarn - though have swum in small lakes in the Alps.

In the buff a few times - standard practice coming out of a club on Brighton sea front in summer! 
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: spokenword on 08 January, 2012, 02:02:55 pm
All of them I think, but with the exception of the tidal pool, I'd be wearing a drysuit or shorts and drytop.
It's just one of the benefits of white water kayaking.
The coldest was probably in the river Durance in July with an air temp of over 30 degrees. It's in the French alps and at that point is all glacial melt water at about 2 degrees. With such a big temp difference I seem to remember that the effect on ones breathing is called a glottal spasm, you can breath in but not out and it's a bit disconcerting. I won't go into the effect on other parts of ones anatomy, just think of shrivelled walnuts.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: lou boutin on 08 January, 2012, 02:56:53 pm
In a river - no
Large freshwater lake - yes in The South of France, which was lovely, and Windermere during the Windermere Challenge, which was hard work and cold.
Loch etc - no but I nearly fell of a boat and into Loch Lomond
Really cold water - see above. I've not done any ice breaking stuff
Lagoon - yes in Iceland
Cave - yes in Cornwall. It was surreal, very calm and very beautiful
Naked - went skinny dipping in the sea when I was a youngster.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: nickp on 09 January, 2012, 06:39:24 pm
in a river? Yes lots. Usually after falling out of a kayak but also River Cam 40 some years ago in one of the old swimming pools written up by Roger Deakin in Waterlog

in a large freshwater lake? Yes - several in the Lake District, Lake Garda

in a small mountain tarn/beck/loch/llyn? yes - several in Lake District, the lower lake at Cragside in Northumberland

in really cold water? Yes - glacial streams in the Alps - freezing!
in really warm water? Yes - volcano heated glacial streams emanting from Iceland's ice cap during a ski trip - blood heat in midwinter complete with hot waterfall shower

in a rock pool/natural tidal lagoon? Yes

in a cave? Yes in Yorkshire Dales in caving gear, helmet, light

in the buff? Yes in most of the above except the cave
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: peliroja on 12 July, 2014, 01:19:47 pm
We're just back from a glorious morning swim in the Wharfe, avec dog, in a deep, still pool near Loup Scar at Burnsall. The water wasn't too cold, weather warm, sun shining, fishies nibbling at our feet. I could hardly drag myself out of the water, it was so gorgeously refreshing. And, of course, we followed it up with a hearty breakfast at the tea room. It's been a struggle to find suitable exercise that the health-challenged family members (Woolly and Tilley-dog) could actually do without hurting themselves further. Let's see how they feel later today! In wild swimming we may have found a good solution.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: woollypigs on 12 July, 2014, 01:22:59 pm
Here is proof, one of the few moments that Tilley stood still long enough for a picture to be taken.

(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/10548000_10152157544266507_8484199548754359194_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: numbnuts on 12 July, 2014, 01:45:08 pm
In rivers = weil's disease, well it has been in my area there has been two cases this year so be careful.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: Greenbank on 18 November, 2019, 07:31:19 pm
Thread dredge.

... Roger Deakin in Waterlog ...

Currently reading this and really enjoying it.

Evoking many memories of growing up in Cambridge and swimming in the Cam/Granta/Rhee.

As for the original question:-

In a river - every day for many summers growing up, local sport of weir running (running in a big arc down the steep concrete bank (https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5697490), across the 12ft weir and up the steep concrete bank the other side)
Large freshwater lake - yes, been on week long swimming holidays with wife/daughter to Lake Annecy the last couple of years, also have done Swim Serpentine the last 3 years
Loch/tarn/llyn etc - yes, scouts camping in Wales
Really cold water - Sea swimming at about 8 deg in April plus also a short bit of swimming during Tough Guy (wading through waist deep water and having to duck under a log and be completely submerged in 5 deg C water, oof)
Tidal Lagoon / rock pool - many places but the natural pool at Treyarnon Bay in Cornwall is a favourite, saw some people in there (no wetsuits) this weekend just gone
Cave - nope, don't get claustrophobia anywhere else except caves, no chance
Naked - plenty of skinny dipping when younger

What brought me to yacf to search for Waterlog / Roger Deakin was the passage:-

"
Swimming without a roof over your head is now a mildly subversive activity, like having an allotment, insisting on your right to walk a footpath, or riding a bicycle.
"

Haven't reached the allotment stage, yet.
Title: Re: Wild swimming
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 18 November, 2019, 07:52:28 pm
Slight OT but I'm assuming if you've read waterlog then your aware of notes from walnut tree cottage and wildwood. If not get them on your Christmas list sharpish