7 of the best wild swimming spots in the UK
There's no better way to immerse yourself in nature than by going wild swimming. Every spot tells its own story: tidal pools fed by Scottish mountains leave your skin humming; river estuaries in Cornwall carry the scent of salt and oak; and in London, ponds are hangouts for locals looking to escape the city streets. Here, we round up seven of the most scenic, whether you're looking for somewhere to go with your family or a wild adventure. They're as beautiful as they are grounding, so take your time. And don't forget to bring a flask; one of the best things about cold water is warming up again. 1. Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Set at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains, a 20-minute walk from the Glenbrittle car park, these tumbling pools look almost too perfect to be real. The glacial water is crystal clear, revealing smooth stones, darting fish and glinting shells, and bell heather and buttercups bloom at the edges. It can get busy, but go early or in soft rain and you might ride the chutes carved by centuries of flow by yourself. Stay a 40-minute drive away at The Bracken Hide, a design-led bothy hotel with Estonian sauna pods and a plunge pool. It's an ideal base for exploring more of Skye, from the hidden coves of Loch Bracadale to Loch Coruisk, reached only by boat or a challenging hike. Llanddwyn Island was once home to St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. After a swim, find her ruined chapel, now a place of pilgrimage for couples. Photograph by Crown Copyright, Visit Wales 2. Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey, Wales
This tidal island off the southwest coast of Anglesey is one of Wales's most evocative swimming spots. It was once home to St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and her ruined chapel is now a place of pilgrimage for couples. Park at Newborough National Nature Reserve, then stroll to Llanddwyn's sand dunes and lighthouse, with views sweeping to Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and the Llŷn Peninsula. The long stretches of sand, rockpools and sheltered coves on both its east and west sides mean you'll find calm waters even when the wind picks up. And nearby Halen Môn offers wild seaweed baths in whisky barrels overlooking the Menai Strait — a soothing end to a day in the elements. 2. Durgan, Cornwall
Brackish water (where fresh rivers meet salty coasts) clings to the skin like green silk. Experience it in this hamlet in south Cornwall, set by the estuary of the Helford River, which has an emerald tint from the reflection of the ancient woods that line the banks. Its coves are steeped in stories; English novelist Daphne du Maurier set her piratical romance Frenchman's Creek here, and the hidden inlets, shifting tides and overhanging oaks still feel ripe for smuggling tales. Spend the night in a local National Trust cottage to explore the South West Coast Path, which runs through Durgan and links a string of secret swim spots. For a longer escape, women could consider The Salt Sisterhood – a week-long retreat offering daily guided swims. The Bude Sea Pool in Cornwall is set on a long ripple of sand between the beaches of Summerleaze and Crooklets. Photograph by Visit Cornwall, Matt Jessop 4. Bude Sea Pool, Cornwall
If you want children to fall in love with wild waters, bring them to this semi-natural tidal pool in north Cornwall, set on a long ripple of sand between the beaches of Summerleaze and Crooklets. At low tide, it becomes a gentle playground — a place to bodyboard, learn to swim or simply splash about while safe from the Atlantic swells, then grab a cone from an ice cream van. Beyond the sea wall, the real waves begin, with big, rolling surf drawing wetsuit-clad regulars and enthusiasts from all over. After your dip, step into Bude beach's Ocean Soul Sauna, with a glass front for watching the surfers play. 5. Black Moss Pot, Lake District
Tucked deep in the Langstrath Valley, this gorge is a wild swimmer's dream: deep enough to dive, clear enough to see your toes when the sun is out and remote enough to feel truly earned. Park in the village of Stonethwaite and follow the footpath beside Langstrath Beck — a two-mile walk that gets the blood pumping. If you're brave, you can then leap in from a natural ledge, or scramble in from the smooth rocks. The water is fed by mountain streams and stays bracingly cold even in summer, and a strong current at one end creates a kind of wild swimming treadmill. Bring a jumper to stay warm post-swim, then head back to Stonethwaite for sticky toffee pudding and a fireside warm-up at the Langstrath Country Inn. Three pools are available at Hampstead Heath Ponds — women's, men's and mixed, often shared with moorhens, dragonflies and the occasional heron. Photograph by the City of London Corporation 6. Hampstead Heath Ponds, London
You might not expect wildness in the middle of a capital city, but that's what makes the ponds in this north London heath special. There are three pools — women's, men's and mixed, often shared with moorhens, dragonflies and the occasional heron. Each has its own loyal community, with strangers passing around flasks and offering tips for warming fingers, and long-held rituals, from New Year's Day dips to solstice plunges. In summer, the grassy banks are lined with readers, nappers and sun-bathers. But autumn is when the location really shines, when the water turns amber with fallen leaves and the cold quietens the crowd. Afterwards, climb Parliament Hill and look out over the skyline to gently re-enter city life. 7. Cellardyke Tidal Pool, Fife, Scotland
Come to this tidal pool on the east coast of Scotland at golden hour, when the water blushes pink and the stone edges catch the evening warmth, making it a sunset swim to remember. Built into the sea wall in the 1930s, Cellardyke is now lovingly maintained by the local community, who've spent the last five years ensuring it remains safe and easily accessible. Afterwards, warm up in the wood-fired Cellardyke sauna, where the view stretches out across the Firth of Forth and Isle of May. The surrounding East Neuk of Fife area is dotted with tidal pools, from St Monans to Pittenweem, all linked by the Fife Coastal Path. Bring a towel, flask and friend and you can spend a whole weekend hopping from one the next. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
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