“I started to take swimming lessons and then did my first outdoor swim in May last year. After that it escalated. I had always been afraid but knew I wanted to do it” Aysha Sharif, outdoor swimmer and this month’s cover star

If swimming is for everyone, why is it that some needs are still not met when it comes to suitable swimwear? In our cover story this month, our new editor Ella Foote meets the women making stylish and sustainable modest swimwear and speaks to swimmer Aysha Sharif about how we can make outdoor swimming and the outdoors more accessible.

Elsewhere in the new issue, Elaine K Howley dips into history to tell us about a pioneer marathon swimmer Pauline Jackson and Liz Lowe reminds us how important it is to take better breaths. In this month’s Gear we look at watches, Rowan Clarke reconnects with the cold-water community at the Scottish Winter Swimming Championships and if you fancy a trip to Scotland yourself, check out Stacey McGowan Holloway’s guide to Scottish beaches.

Here's a taster of what else you can find inside the new issue:

On the cover

• Modest Swimwear – The women putting the sass and style into modest swimwear

• Open Water Racing and Race – Pioneer marathon swimmer Pauline Jackson
• Hampton 100 – Hampton Pool celebrates its centenary

• You Ask, We Answer – Cassie Patten explains drills
• Pool Page – A challenging training session from Dan Bullock of Swim For Tri
• You Do the Math – What story does your training data tell?
• Breathing Space – Simple exercises for better breathing
• Wetsuit Sustainability – Can brands do what's right for the customer and the planet?
• Training Tech – Sports watches on test

Explore

• Fin-tastic Finland – Wellness and sauna retreat
• The Beaches of Scotland – Top picks for wild swimming
• Swimming Around... South Devon

Columnists

• Simon Griffiths – Swimming in peace and friendship
• Sarah Thomas – Reclaiming the balance
• Alice Goodridge – Wild west coast
• Joe Minihane – The calm after the storm
• Caroline Saxon – What have I learned this winter?
• Simon Murie – The birth of swim tourism
• Jonathan Cowie – Another country
• Pete Kelly – Tales from up north

Plus!

• Eco Pages – Cushion stars and shark eggcases
• UK and international event listings and reviews
• Your letters, stories and photos