The Lowdown
WILD SWIMMING As your senses heighten and your mind calms, feel the benefits of connecting to nature, by immersing yourself in the outdoors and soaking up its awe-inspiring beauty Words | Lydia Paleschi
As an island nation with close affinities to the water there has long been a tradition of wild swimming in Britain. Wild swimmers take to nature’s open water spaces for an alfresco dip in all weathers and seasons, freeing themselves from the confines of indoor exercise spaces and chlorinated pools. In England and Wales, a ‘right to roam’ law means that we are permitted to swim in most rivers and lakes, whereas in Scotland all waters are accessible as long as swimmers uphold the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. In essence, as long as we respect the environment, each other and don’t trespass, Britain’s waterways are an easily accessible place to experience a fun form of exercise and a sense of adventure. It is unsurprising that there has been a surge in the popularity of wild swimming in recent years, as people take to the water to reconnect with nature. I caught up with Lauren Biddulph, who runs swimming retreats as part of the Salt Sisterhood based in Cornwall, to learn more about wild swimming and the benefits of immersing oneself in the open water. Lauren starts by clarifying to me that wild swimming can be in the sea, rivers or any open 80
BritishTravelJournal.com
