Wild swimming, also known as open water swimming, is the act of swimming in natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and the sea. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason.
There are many benefits to be gained from taking a dip in the great outdoors. These include improved circulation and cardiovascular health and it can boost metabolism, as your body works harder to maintain its core temperature. The cold water can help to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness after exercise, hence we generally build the swim into the event later on in the day. There is some evidence to suggest that regular cold water swimming can boost your immune system. Importantly, wild swimming can reduce stress and anxiety as it can trigger the release of endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.
Check out this article on the benefits of wild swimming.
Safety is key and we always research the swimming spots and take the necessary precautions with a trained open water swimming lead. Meet our expert wild swimming partner who swam the English Channel.
At Wellbeing Walks we try and build the swim in nearer to the end of the walk so you are close to a hot shower and we can also transport wetsuits and safety equipment to the location in advance to ensure you don’t have to worry about any of the details.
After the swim why not try some cheese and wine, gin or craft beer tasting!
