However, early morning and sunset are personal favourites especially setting out from places like Ashness Jetty. It's an activity that has gained popularity over the last few years and the Lake District is top on the list of places to go for many wild swimmers. You could easily spend a day here swimming at various spots and enjoying the amazing countryside. Stanley Gill Force - Image: Daniel Start//WildSwimming.com. From those which are easy strolls, to a few that are slightly harder to reach. This 4 metre deep pool lies under a narrow gorge which the water cascades down from. This takes around 15 mins. This stream has beautiful water to swim in wild through a breath-taking gorge. With Scafell Pike, Great Gable and more looming you should be asking yourself why you havent taken a wild swim here already? If youre planning a trip to the Lake District, here are more of our guides to help you get the best out of this stunning part of England. Located in the shadows of Langdale Pikes, Loughrigg Tarn is another natural swimming hole that is too good to resist. There are no facilities at Blea Tarn, so pack your own picnic and thermos of coffee. Some of the spots on our list are not signposted, so carry directions with you and check our individual guides for details on track conditions. As the grot becomes more well known it will be harder to get it to yourself, so you might want to visit early or late if youre travelling in peak season or at the weekend. Now thats not a bad feeling to have. Triangular in shape and with a rocky beach, you can wile away the day in and out of the water and enjoy the small waterfall that can be found at the end of the pool. All the details on the walk and what its like to swim there are in this guide. From rivers to lakes, quarries to natural dubs and pots - you'll never be far away from a sumptuous, soul-reviving freshwater wonderland in which to wallow. Where can I swim for free in the lake district?Any of the main lakes, tarns etc are all free to swim in. Thank you for subscribing! Its gorgeous at any time of year, but if youre visiting in autumn, youll be treated to some wonderful fall colours. There are always rocks to use as stepping stones and on our visit all but one was tiny and not really worth mentioning - however I know we were walking during an unusually dry spell. The path above the campsite leads through the woods mile to find first set of pools, below on L, followed by the main pool after another 200m. Jumping from the cliffs into the deep water below can give you a huge adrenalin rush. With these great wild swimming spots you can enjoy the cool natural waters while taking in the spectacular scenery that is all around you. After buying a one way ticket to Istanbul we spent a year making our way through Asia before arriving in Australia, where we have been living ever since. Read Next Conquering ridges on Blencathra. Its a scenic remote spot and one of our favourite wild swimming locations in the Lake District. # # 2 3 2 # # # # # 0909897810 . Buckstones Jump is an idyllic spot for wild swimming in the Lake District and is a very well-known local spot. Although were sharing a few of the Lakes most famous falls, this list is biased towards our passion when it comes to waterfalls, and thats those you can swim under. Pinpoint. There is a small amount of boggy ground in this direction, but its minimal and none of it flooded our boots. The fact there was no one else here at all during our visit in the August school holidays still has me perplexed! Firstly, always check the weather forecast. Take the ferry to Howtown and follow the shore path a mile SW. Or take Howtown road from Pooley Bridge at N end of Ullswater; you will pass several beaches en route and Park Foot camping (CA10 2NA, 0176 84 86309) has lakeshore pitches. The views however, are sublime, looking out to Crummock Water and the surrounding fells. As the valley is difficult to get to, few people venture to this beautiful destination. So if you plan to take a dip in multiple lakes please rinse both yourself, your swimwearand any other equipment thoroughly between each swim. Best wild swimming in the Lake District for plunging into a lagoon pool from rocky ledges. Hypothermia from wild swimming is known and should be protected against. The lake itself is around mile in width and 2 miles in length so you can use it to gain confidence or to let yourself go into nature. The walk to get there is also gorgeous, taking you alongside multiple cascades and through fabulous mossy woodland. Aira Force is probably the best known waterfall in the Lakes and it is incredibly picturesque. 14 Incredible Lake District Waterfalls: wild swimming and hidden gems, Catarata Del Toro: difficulty, trail conditions and how to beat the crowds, Tips for experiencing the magical Golden Circle in winter, Skelwith Force: a great rainy day activity in the Lake District, Crinkle Crags & Bowfell: Two of Wainwright's favourites in one walk, Tarn Hows and Black Fell: an easy walk in the Lake District, Loughrigg Fell: the perfect walk from Ambleside, Lake District, The easiest route up England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, Helm Crag - The perfect sunset walk in the Lake District, Warnscale Bothy: a Lake District hidden treasure, 14 incredible things to do in Coniston including secret spots, 16 amazing things to do in Grasmere including the best of its wild side, Stanley Ghyll Waterfall: one of the most atmospheric in the Lake District, The shortest route to Cathedral Cave - just a 15 minute walk, The Giggle Alley Japanese Garden: Eskdale's hidden autumn wonderland, Hodge Close Quarry: how to find the incredible hidden caverns, The quickest walk to Rydal Cave plus a hidden cave nearby, Stock Ghyll Force: Ambleside's beautiful ravine waterfall, Tongue Pot and the spectacular swimming holes beyond, The Buttermere Infinity Pool and the hidden swimming spots beyond, Ritson's Force: incredible electric blue waterholes in the Lake District, Buckstones Jump & the incredible swimming holes at Rydal Waterfalls, Scale Force: the Lake District's wild and mysterious gorge waterfall, Sour Milk Ghyll and Easedale Tarn: 2 spectacular swimming spots in Grasmere, Whorneyside Force: Langdale's secret waterfall swimming spot, Thirlmere infinity pool: how to get there and beat the crowds, The Old Man of Coniston, one of the best walks in the Lake District, Everything you need to know to hike Catbells, Lake District, Seven Easy Walks in the Lake District, England, The best Lake District walks for stunning views, Best things to do in the Lake District, England, The Kindness of Strangers: 10 travel moments that restored my faith in humanity, What it's like to give it all up to travel in your 30's. If you told me I was in the Lake District, Id be gobsmacked. The best place for river scrambling and an aquatic mini adventure. You can read more about the falls, as well as several other stunning waterfalls along the same track (which we havent listed in this article) here. The only hard decision you will have to make, is which one to visit first! The Julian Alps offer top-class swimming, including the lovely (but costly) Lake Bled lido. Add to Wishlist. This is one of our favourite little lakes, and a great escape on a sunny day. At an altitude of 600 metres, getting to Sprinkling Tarn is a long hike across rugged mountain scenery. From great lakes like Windermere, through to small hidden gems such as Tongue Pot, there is a swim out there to suit you all. If I was randomly dropped at Scale Force and asked where I thought I was, Id say New Zealand (or maybe Iceland). The Eskdale Valley is known for its pools and waterfalls and Tongue Pot is possibly the best of them all. Find local news and events in your area, water campaigns that might interest you or join a group or a meeting of like-minded people. Its only 100m between the wooden bridge and the base of the upper falls, but its definitely not for everyone. 7 Avoid areas of blue-green algae, wading in muddy areas or swimming with an open cut. Discover the elegant splendour of Stanley Gill Force, one of Lakelands most graceful falls, once revered by Victorian traveller but now well off the beaten track. Be inspired to do more and go further by equipping yourself with the best tools for the job. Park at Coniston Hall (LA21 8AS) and walk south, or disembark at Hoathwaite Landing and walk north (or walk from Torver, LA21 8AX). The silver lake beaches between Hoathwaite and Conistan Hall are backed by meadows and ancient parkland, make for a perfect beginners stretch and are situated between the two campsites of the same name. Its relatively flat until near the end when there is a short but steep climb to the viewpoint. It takes just a few minutes, but would be slippery after rain, so it does require care. The city of Poltava is shown in dark blue. The best places to go wild swimming near waterfalls in the UK, from rivers in Cornwall to pools in National Parks in Yorkshire, the Lake District and Scotland But we do it. These are ideal places for enjoying a peaceful wild swim. This is another waterfall which has created a series of smaller cascades and a range of different swimming holes. The water is clear, peaty and cold, flowing straight off the hills. Being smaller in size and relatively shallow, on a lovely summers day the temperature of the water will be perfect. Park at the car park nearest to the cattle grid (marked CG on an OS Map), Galleny Force - Image: Daniel Start//WildSwimming.com. Coordinates: 54.4428 N, 3.2920 W 2. All rights reserved, Best spots for an invigorating wild swim in the Lake District, favourite things to do in the Lake District, Great things to do in the Yorkshire Dales. These are either stand alone pieces of water or a particular place on some of the larger lakes to enjoy yourself in the water without doing an open water swim. Administrative divisions until 2020 [ edit] Raions of Poltava Oblast as of June 2020. For more information about swimming responsibly in the Lake District, catch up on the rules at the Outdoor Swimming Society. Best wild swimming in the Lake District for young kids and families. Discover more great hidden places to go in the Lake District with The Wild Guide to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales by Daniel Start. We should know, we grew up there. Go to Basket/Checkout | Sign In | +44 (0)1455 611185 Beckenham Place Park Swimming Lake, London, England. All the details on the walk, as well as another waterfall nearby (not on this list) are in this guide. Grasmere is situated in the heart of the Lake District National Park. Explore the latest books: Wild Swimming Walks Lake Disitrict or Wild Guide Lakes and Dales. Located in the peaceful western side of The Lake District, Cumbria, the Stanley Ghyll Force waterfall plummets 60 feet into a secluded gorge. Gadding's Dam Reservoirs often make for excellent wild swimming spots. Wild swims don't come with swankier views than this. The hardest hikes in the Lake District National Park - 14 challenging routes Check for any regulations before hand such as specific areas or times first though. From river swims and lake dips to a good soak under a waterfall, have plenty of spots spread right across the county that are ideal for a truly immersive Lake District experience! Crystal clear water, cant beat a summer swim to cool off and in the h. Theres a car park right next to the tarn and a path that runs down to the water. After 200m youll come to a fork, and the easiest route at this point is to bear right. Its cold already. Take our map with you on your discovery of the amazing wild swimming in the Lake District. Lake District waterfalls map Lake District waterfalls Aira Force Location: Matterdale, Penrith CA11 0JY Grid Reference: NY 401209 Starting with perhaps the most famous waterfall in all of the Lakes, since the 18 th Century Aira Force has stood tall as one of the national park's tourist hotspots. Unbelievably, despite it being located in Wasdale Head (the start of the trail to Scafell Pike and one of the busiest places in the Lake District) it hides in plain sight and remains something of an unknown. It will help to keep your body temperature up and to help you with buoyancy. Please Note: Wild Swimming is only available to guests who are residents of Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa. The only difficult part of the track is negotiating the bog. After a few hundred metres, the track gets very rocky and youll basically be rock hopping for the next 250m. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We are Paul & Mark, two curious & adventurous travellers who provide practical information to help you make the most of your travels. But, the natural and tranquil setting is full of the typically beautiful Lake District scenes. Sort by : River Esk Falls. The trail is now climbing up alongside the stream, its rocky, but not difficult. 1 March 2023. There are several small footholds, but even then, I had to take my boots off to feel comfortable going up. The path around the bridge is also boggy. Its an old reservoir on the route up Holme Fell, used for the mines below. We used to talk about travelling the world together, and in 2012 we finally made that happen. However, reaching the most spectacular part of the falls, the upper falls, does require a scramble - which is probably why even in the busy summer holidays we got the entire thing to ourselves. The book takes you on magical journeys through Britain?s most popular walking and swimming region, combining classic Lakes fell walking with adventurous swimming, collating the very best swims and hikes in Lakeland. Information can be found on the Lake District website specifically for swimmers and users of the lakes. Rydal Bower 14. There is no track and reaching the upper falls requires negotiating quite a lot of rocks, which can be slippery. The long narrow pool is just wide enough to swim up and down for about 50 meters. Look at the websites for the Lake District and for Cumbria, for any information and guidelines before you set out. Add to Favorites. Weve been providing free travel content since 2017, helping our readers explore new and familiar destinations. If you think you need to fly to a far off tropical destination to get your turquoise water fix, think again. From this point on the scenery gets even better. With a shimmering chute falling 20m into a deep plunge pool, its hidden in a mossy and verdant tropical-looking ravine reached by crossing several wooden bridges and some final scrambling along a slightly tricky path. With the sun reflecting off the mountains, the water shimmers in the reflection of tall mountains, there are few places better for a thoroughly enjoyable outdoor activity in the UK. Packed full of activities, destinations and free things to do outside, the new GetOutside app makes it easy to organise an outdoor activity or a day out that your family will love. Seeing a fish or two while swimming in the wild here is not uncommon and only adds to your enjoyment. This is an avid favourite among wild swimmers and you are sure to meet others here who are enjoying the water. If you come here for a dip its worth exploring further up the valley. You can consider this article a work in progress as we have plenty more waterfall adventures planned! At 61m deep it is the deepest tarn in the Lakes and is as deep as most of our larger lakes; all this in a tarn barely 400m across. Stanley Ghyll Waterfall is one of the most atmospheric in the Lake District. However, the pool is small and best enjoyed with as few people as possible - which can be a challenge to achieve as its not a very long or difficult walk (although you do have a bit of a climb on a narrow track). Exposure Kamm/D-Shaped Seatpost Silicone Insert and Band for Boost R 5.00 Wood behind, beach alongside; its a great spot. Swimming at Scale Force Waterfall If you're feeling brave you can take a dip in the icy waters beneath Scale Force. All Rights Reserved. These are the 14 best waterfalls in the Lake District: 1: Scale Force2: Whorneyside Force3: Rydal Grot4: Sour Milk Ghyll5: Stock Ghyll Force6: Chockstone Falls7: Fisher Gill Falls8: Aira Force9: Ritsons Force10: Stanley Ghyll Waterfall11: Coniston Secret Waterfall12: Skelwith Force13: Eskdale Waterfalls14: Warnscale Beck Falls, Walk length: 4.2 miles (6.8km) returnDifficulty: Moderate. Wild Things - Wild Swimming Walks - Lake DistrictThe best-selling Wild Swimming Walks series visits the delights of The Lake District with 28 lake, river and waterfall days out.Combining stunning photography, engaging stories and natural history, with all The currents under the surface can be significantly stronger than above and can catch you unawares. Why not combine it with one of these ideas for screen free holidays? Access into the water is easiest on the southeast side of the tarn. However, you dont have to be a fan of wild swimming to enjoy a visit. This high, craggy cliff beneath Hallin Fell plummets into deep water. Wild Swimming Walks Lake District; Wild Swimming Walks Lake District - 28 lake, river and waterfall days out. This lake is better suited to more experienced or confident wild swimmers due to the steep drop offs near the edge of the lake but that shouldnt stop it being a lake to aim for. Sitting under the shadow of Crinkle Crags, in one of the Lake Districts most spectacular valleys, youll find a secluded waterfall. Obviously both swimming and spending time in nature both have proven health benefits, and proponents of wild swimming say it has unique mental health benefits as well.No major research into the topic has been undertaken, but the British Medical Journal (opens in new tab) published a study in 2018 suggesting it may be effective for . The car park has toilets which come with a 50p fee. Near the foot of the valley, the Esk River has cut canyons and pools in the rock creating three great pots to wild swim. This is the part of the waterfall that most people visit. The walk in is fairly straight forward from Martindale Head car park at the southernmost tip of Haweswater Reservoir, it's the drive there that is the challenge! You can then rock hop or walk through the water to the base of the falls. Wild Swimming Walks Lake District: 28 Lake, River & Waterfall Days Out 216. by Pete Kelly. Grasmere. Just dont attempt it if theres been a lot of rain and the flow is really strong as it could be dangerous. The book takes you on magical journeys through Britain's most popular walking and swimming region, combining classic Lakes fell walking with adventurous swimming, collating the very best swims and hikes in Lakeland. Its the perfect spot for a rejuvenating wake-up swim. After your thoroughly adventurous swim, head back down to Seathwaite Farm along Grains Ghyll completing a day out in the Lake District that you wont forget in a hurry. But the shelving beach is on the far side (20 minute walk away from the car park), so it retains a slightly off-the-beaten-track feel. If you are looking for freedom, stunning scenery, and the opportunity to explore the very best in wild swimming spots, then the only place to visit is the Lake District. Also, be aware of other users. It couldnt be more different from the dark and mysterious vibes at Scale Force. You cant swim in the pool, but its more than enough to simply sit and take in the idyllic scene.