There’s a moment just before you step into the water - a pause where everything stills. You feel the air on your skin, the crunch of ground underfoot. Then, a breath. You wade in.
That first bite of cold always comes as a shock, no matter how many times you've done it. But within seconds, you're in - surrounded, suspended. Everything slows down with your breath, the sensation and the water.
For many of us, outdoor swimming begins as a challenge. A dare, a resolution or a friend’s suggestion. But over time, it becomes something else entirely. Not just a dip. Not exercise. It becomes a way of life. A ritual.
The Pull of the Water
Ask any regular swimmer why they keep going back, and their answers rarely begin with fitness. They talk about clarity. About how the cold rinses off the noise of the day or how it reminds them what it feels like to be alive.
Author Roger Deaken says, “When you swim, you feel your body for what it mostly is – water – and it begins to move with the water around it.”
Swimming outdoors has a way of tuning us back in - not only to our bodies, but to the rhythms of the world around us. The changing seasons, the shifting light, the way the water feels different in June than it does in October. You become attuned and almost part of the cycle.
What’s perhaps most surprising about wild swimming is how still it makes you feel. Not physically - you’re kicking, stroking, breathing - but mentally. The moment you immerse yourself, everything else disappears. There is only now. There are few other times in our lives when we’re forced to truly be present. You can’t check your phone in a loch. You can’t plan dinner or reply to emails. The water demands your full attention, and in doing so, gives you peace. Cold water, especially, requires you to be calm. To slow your breath. To surrender, not resist. It becomes a kind of meditation - one where nature holds you in place.
There’s something beautifully democratic about outdoor swimming. In the words of Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, “The water doesn’t know how old you are.”
It also doesn’t care what you look like, where you come from, or how fast you go. In the water, we’re all equal. Cold is cold. Bravery is bravery. The act of stepping in is enough.
You’ll find swimmers in their teens and in their seventies. People recovering from illness, new mums rediscovering their bodies, seasoned athletes, and those who simply love the feeling of being in nature. Everyone is welcome. Wild swimming isn’t exclusive or elite - it’s inclusive by nature. A towel and a sense of curiosity are often all you need.
And then there’s the quiet power of the people you share the swim with. The friends, club-mates, or early morning regulars who show up week after week. Who help zip your wetsuit or offer a steadying hand on slippery rocks. Who pour the tea after. Who laugh with you when the wind takes your towel.
There’s something about the water that softens us, opens us up. Maybe it’s the vulnerability of being cold, exposed, and half-naked in a public place. Maybe it’s the shared bravery of stepping in together, or the simple truth that you’re all doing something a little wild, and a little wonderful.
In a world that can sometimes feel isolating, these moments of community - of quiet solidarity - matter deeply.
And then, the glow. That unmistakable feeling you get after a swim - the rush of warmth, the adrenaline, the grin you can’t quite explain. It’s in the woollen jumper you pull over damp hair, the steam rising from your flask, the pride in your body for doing something hard.
There’s a particular kind of happiness that comes after wild swimming. It’s earned. It’s deep. It lingers.
These small rituals - the hot drink, the post-swim chat, the slow walk back to the car - become sacred in their own way. Recovery becomes part of the rhythm, a moment to savour what you've just done. A moment to feel good, in every sense of the word.
Outdoor swimming isn’t just a hobby. It’s a practice. A way to ground ourselves, to connect - with nature, with others, with ourselves.
It reminds us to pause. To breathe. To pay attention. And to come back - again and again - to the places, the people, and the moments that make us feel most alive.
So whether you swim daily, weekly, or just in your mind, know this: the water is always there. Waiting. Offering up its gifts. All you have to do is step in.
Step Right In
If you are new to Wild Swimming, there are lots of resources to help you get started. Here are some of our top tips!
- Outdoor Swimmer Magazine - this is a brililant resource . Full of inspiration, guides, seasonal information and groups/challenges that you can get involved in.
- We have a range of books in our collection that can help you get started. Check out our collection. FINDRA Wild Swimming Collection.
- The Outdoor Swimming Society - if you would rather find some friends to swim with, there is a list of clubs or groups on the OSS site, along with inspiration and helpful advice.
- The importance of having the right clothing for after your swim cannot be overstated. Make sure that you are able to get warm quickly, especially in the cooler months, and bring a hot brink and maybe a sugary snack too.
- Check in with your doctor if you are taking medication. It might not seem important, but it could effect how your body reacts to sudden changes in temperature
Sunday Inspiration
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