Dear fellow swimmers

Event cancellations are a fact of life in outdoor swimming for all sorts of reasons and this season seems to have been particularly impacted. This week I’ve anxiously been watching the Swim Serpentine website for updates. Finally, on Thursday evening, I was relieved to see that blue-green algae levels have gone down to safe levels and the event will be going ahead. I’m looking forward to swimming and spending the day at the event. We have a stand there and an event-day subscription offer. If you’re there, please come over for a chat or to pick up a magazine.

For those of you not at Swim Serpentine, you can actually take advantage of the event-day subscription offer here. Then read on to find out about Swim England’s campaign to keep the nation's pools open and an opportunity to attend a free conference about applying for Bathing Water Status at your local swim spot. 
 

EXPLORE

Swim hikes in South Wales

Nia Lloyd Knott shares her favourite swim hikes in Gower and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) from her new book Wild Swimming Walks South Wales.

Read more...

GEAR

Best warm hats 2023

Reflective yarn for visibility, fleece-lined for snugness or even a layer of neoprene for added insulation: Omie Dale reviews the best warm hats for cold water swimmers. 

Read more... 

OUTDOOR SWIMMER EXTRA

Returning to swimming after injury 

Swimming coach Cassie Patten has advice for those returning to training after a break or are feeling too overwhelmed by an upcoming event to train. (Premium content). 

Read more... 

SPONSORED CONTENT

Swim the English Channel with Aspire in 2024

We are looking for individuals to join Aspire Relay Channel swim teams and take on the 22 mile swim in 2024. At Aspire, we are as passionate about swimming as you are and will be with you all the way, from sign up to feeling the sand between your toes on a French beach. Dive in and help support people paralysed by Spinal Cord Injury. For further details email our event co-ordinator, Andrew.
 

STAY INFORMED & SWIM RESPONSIBLY

SEPTEMBER 2023 - COMMUNITY

Expand your swimming horizons and achieve your swimming dreams. Read Outdoor Swimmer on digital or in print from anywhere in the world. Purchase a single issue or subscribe to a monthly magazine and save up to 20% each month. 

EVENTS COMING SOON 

(sponsored content)

SWIM WALES CHALLENGE SERIES (500m, 1.5km, 3km, 4x500m relay)
16 September | Llys-y-Frân, Pembrokeshire
Find out more...  

GO SWIM LOCH MORLICH (250m, 750m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10000m)
16 September | Aviemore
Find out more...  

MARINERS MILE (500m, half mile, 1 mile)
23 September | Cheshunt
Find out more...  

SWIM CASCAIS '23 (1km, 1.9km, 3.8km, 5km, 10km, 20km)
23 September | Cascais, Portugal
Find out more...  

ULTRASWIM 33.3 #2 MONTENEGRO (33km, 6 swims over 4 days)
29 Sep-3 Oct | Herceg Novi, Montenegro
Find out more...  

SWIMTHEISLAND – GOLFO DELL'ISOLA (800m, 1.1km, 1.8km, 3.5km, 6km)
30 Sep-1 Oct | Bergeggi, Italy
Find out more...  

OCTOBER

PROM'SWIM (500m, 1km, 2km, 5km, 10km)

7 October | Nice, France
Find out more...  

GREAT BARRIER REEF OCEAN SWIM SERIES (1km, 3km, 5km)

21 October | Port Douglas, North Queensland
Find out more...  

COOL MILE, TAL Y LLYN (1 mile)
28 October | Gwynedd, North Wales
Find out more...  

Find an event on our website. To promote your event here, please email stuart@outdoorswimmer.com. 

WIN GREAT PRIZES

Win items from the new Speedo X Folk collection 

Speedo are celebrating their new autumn collaboration with Folk by offering Outdoor Swimmer fans the chance to win products from their new range. 

Enter to win... 

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

Last Saturday, I joined a riverside protest against Thames Water’s plans to abstract water from the Thames and replace it with sewage effluent. Then on Thursday, I gave a presentation about the joys of river swimming at a packed community meeting about the scheme. Someone asked, why should the government care if a few people can’t go swimming if river water is needed to tackle a national drinking water shortage? It’s a fair point but my response is that swimmers in rivers are like canaries in mines. We’re closest to the water and are among the first to notice environmental damage. This issue is much bigger than us swimmers. It’s about our attitude to our natural resources. We simply can’t keep taking and ignore the consequences. Yes, water shortages need to be tackled but we need to be more imaginative about how we go about rather than grabbing the cheapest source.

 If you agree, please sign the petition calling on Thames Water to abandon this plan.

Happy swimming.

Simon Griffiths 
Founder & Publisher