💦 Be an open water explorer 💦

Go on a river, sea or lake adventure

Brought to you in partnership with Zoggs Wetsuits

We all love a day trip to beach or our favourite swim spot on a sunny day, but there’s so much potential to turn it into a full-blown adventure.

Britain is blessed with thousands of miles of coastline, rivers and lakes all calling out to be explored. Are you ready for a summer of swimming? 

Read on for expert guidance on how to plan your next swimming exploration, whether it be in the sea, a river or lake. 

And to encourage you in your open water adventures, Zoggs are offering 25% off their entire wetsuit range. Use the code EXPLORER25 to snap up their offer!

Abi Whyte

Digital Editor, Outdoor Swimmer

💦 River adventures 💦

Surely swimming is the best way to get to know your local river, familiarising yourself with its currents, eddies, pebbly shallows and glorious deep stretches.

But rivers are of course wild bodies of water with changing currents and conditions, hidden obstructions, overhanging branches and other hazards, so be sure to brush up on our outdoor swimming risk assessment guide above when planning a river swim.  

PLAN AN A TO B RIVER SWIM

There's something so intrepid about starting a river swim in one place and ending up somewhere completely different, whether it be just a few 100 meters or several miles downstream. But doing an A to B swim takes planning – plotting your route on a map, knowing your entry and exit points and wearing or packing the right kit. 

Editor Ella's top tips for planning an A to B river swim:

• Plan a route. Rivers near railways are brilliant. You can park downstream, get the train upstream and swim back to the start. The River Thames is a good example. 

• Set a distance. I like 5K, doing 3k, then lunch and then 2k. For longer swims I break up a 10k by doing 3k, 4k, 3k with decent meal breaks and rest. 

• Understand the conditions - weather, tide, currents etc. Learn about what you might encounter along your route. 

• Understand your route, where will you get in and out? What other water users will be present? Is it permissible route? What will you do in an emergency? 

• Make a kit list. As well as the usual swimwear, you will need aquatic shoes, suncream, first aid kit, hydration, tow float. A wetsuit is another obvious inclusion – we like Zoggs Explorer Ultra for its open water specific design.

• Gather some pals, plan together, swim together. 

• Plan your stops. Pubs and cafes not too far from the water make excellent places for lunch and rest. Avoid alcohol when swimming. 

• Set a date. Look for gaps in the forecast that offer settled, calm conditions. 

🌊 Head to the coast 🌊

Is there anywhere freer for swimming than in the sea? Britain's 7,000+ miles of breathtaking coastline is yours to explore. It affords new views of crags, cliffs, caves and coves, immersive swimming and wilderness. The sea has given the Outdoor Swimmer team some of our most exhilarating, fun and joyful swimming experiences.  

HOW TO PLAN A SEA SWIM

The sea is much more accessible than inland waters, but it’s much more dangerous, too. Navigating currents, tides and weather as well as sea-faring traffic means that you need to plan your swim carefully. Here, endurance swimmer Rowan Clarke shares her guidance for planning a sea swim...

Start with local knowledge: Find a beach, cove or bay on the map and then Google ‘can I swim at…’ Chances are, your search will return advice from local swimmers, swim guides or organisations.

Research tides, currents and weather conditions: Use apps like Magic Seaweed or Windy to find out the conditions and tide times. Onshore winds (blowing from onto the shore) makes choppy, unpredictable waves that break early. Offshore winds (from land towards the sea) can make clean, well-shaped waves that break later.

Plan exit points: It’s always safer to hug the coastline than head out into open sea. If you’re swimming along the coastline, plan points that you can get out if you need to. 

Take provisions: Always use a tow float – unless you have a kayaker or paddleboarder accompanying you. A tow float makes you visible, and it means you take snacks, water, a whistle and a mobile phone.

Don’t go alone: Swim with others. If you’re planning a longer sea swim, a capable paddleboarder or kayaker can offer excellent safety support as well as carrying supplies.

Tell the beach lifeguard or coastguard: If you’re swimming at a lifeguarded beach, tell the lifeguards where you’re planning to swim and for how long. It doesn’t matter that you’re swimming beyond the red and yellow flags – the lifeguard will be able to keep an eye on you. If you’re swimming a longer distance and away from beaches, let the local coastguard know. This saves them trying to rescue you when well-meaning members of the public spot you from the coast path and call it in!

If you get into trouble: Stay calm, turn onto your back, spread out your arms and legs and float. You can hug your tow float if you have one. If you have a whistle, blow it for attention. If you have a mobile phone, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.

If you get caught in a rip tide: Rips are strong currents running out to sea at one to five miles-per-hour, making them impossible to out swim. You can often spot them as a channel of churning water on a beach, around a groyne or pier, or at the mouth of a river.  If you feel yourself being dragged out by a rip, don’t try to swim against it. Instead, swim parallel to the shore.

ROWAN'S GUIDE TO HOW TO PACK FOR YOUR SEA ADVENTURE

Leave your dry kit in your car and either take your keys with you in your tow float, or use a lock box that you attach to your car. 

Kit:

• Swimwear
• Goggles with polarized lenses
• Zoggs Explorer Ultra wetsuit
• Anti-chafing lube
• Sea-friendly, waterproof sunscreen
• Tow float
• Mobile phone (in a waterproof bag)
• Snacks like jelly sweets
• Sports-cap drinks bottle containing water, squash or an energy drink
• Towels
• Hard-soled lightweight trainers or water shoes if you want to explore rocks, caves and rockpools
• Changing robe and warm layers for afterwards

💙 The allure of lakes 💙

From the immense beauty of the Lake District and crystal-clear llyns of the Snowdonia to the mighty lochs of Scotland, Britain is blessed with some of the most spectacular lakes in the world. And let's not forget the burgeoning number of open water lake venues that have opened up in recent years, which you can discover through the NOWCA network.

While lakes can look very calm on the surface, they are still wild bodies of water that should be treated with as much vigilance as swimming in rivers and the sea. Remember:

• If you're swimming in an unsupervised lake, look for signs warning about sudden drop-offs, strong currents, or other dangers. 
• Ensure the water looks clean, and you know how to recognise blue-green algae. 
• Take care to enter the lake slowly; there could be sharp or slippery rocks, and the water could get very deep after just a few steps. 
• Be vigilant if other activities are going on, e.g., fishing, sailing, paddle-boarding etc. These may be visible to you, but not the other way around, so having the right kit is vital, to ensure you can be seen.

FIND A LAKE VENUE

The advantages of a swimming lake venue are that all water sports will have their own designated areas, a life-guard will be on hand, and water quality and weather conditions are continually monitored for safety. Find an open water venue near you on the NOWCA Wild App.

GO SWIM HIKING IN LAKE COUNTRY

Blessed with wild fells and majestic lakes, the Lake District is prime swim-hiking country. With the right kit - a pair of swim-hiking shoes, a bright coloured swim cap and a tow float that can carry your dry kit, you can plan a whole day of adventuring in and out of the water.

Here, author and swim guide Pete Kelley shares his favourite swim-hikes in the Lake District.

Snowdonia is another jewel of Britain for its lakes and wild uplands. Read Emma Simpson's top 6 wild swim-hikes in Eryri National Park.

💦 Outdoor Swimmer Explorer Tips 💦

If you’re new to wild swimming, read our guide to how to get started.

Be safe, be seen! For your wild swim adventures you’ll need this essential swim kit: a swimsuit, a brightly coloured tow float, a bright swim hat, goggles and water shoes. For extra support, comfort and warmth in the water we also recommend wearing a Zoggs Explorer Ultra wetsuit.

We hope our guide has inspired you to take the plunge on a more adventurous swim this summer. If you’re looking for a wetsuit to help support you on your swims, Zoggs are offering 25% off their wetsuit range.