This month we are very excited to review the ‘Wild Guide - London & South East’ book from the pioneering team at Wild Things Publishing. The first wild swimming book I bought back in 2014 was called ‘Wild Swimming’ and was a guide to 300 hidden dips in the rivers, lakes and waterfalls of Britain, written by a chap called Daniel Start, who set up Wild Things Publishing. This book caused real waves and built upon the groundwork that pioners like Roger Deakins and Kate Rew had laid down. It was a practical guide to hidden swim spots, secret waterfalls and rugged beaches. It opened up the unspoilt beauty of the UK and forced me to see areas of our isles in a different light. That book sits proudly on my wild swimming shelf, dog-eared and eagerly thumbed through. The true sign of a well-loved book. So when we heard from Daniel about some new books he had been working on we leapt at the chance to read them. 1st up ‘Wild Guide to London & South East’. The cover shot is always so important in these guides and this one doesn’t disappoint. Rolling hills, bucolic pastoral scenes and the golden rays of a setting sun. It’s a magical first glimpse of what’s to follow. Alongside this sits the tagline “Hidden places, great adventures and the good life”. Sitting in my London flat this is exactly what the doctor ordered!

But first some background on Daniel and the team behind the book. Daniel Start is an award-winning travel writer and photographer. He is the author of best-selling Wild Swimming, Wild Guide South West and Hidden Beaches amongst others. Alongside him were two key contributors to this book. Firstly, Lucy Grewcock, who’s an award-winning adventure travel writer from the Nene Valley and Sussex. Secondly, Elsa Hammond, who was brought up in Kent and recently returned from a Pacific Ocean solo rowing adventure.

“Imagine a summer spent discovering ancient forests and swimming in peaceful rivers, wild camping on sunset hillforts and finding the very best artisan food, straight from the farm or fields”

Wild Guide

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First, this is a lovingly crafted guide, the depth of detail is exceptional. By focusing on a regional level, they are able to uncover truly hidden areas and bring a real sense of identity to the region. The volume of places they’ve uncovered is staggering. It is this attention to detail and meticulous research that is the standout achievement of this book. This guide alone has 300 Wild swimming places, canoeing rivers and hidden beaches. 100 Ancient woodlands, summer meadows and wildlife wonders. 100 Lost ruins, hidden castles and sacred stones. 50 Caves and crypts, grottoes and follies. 50 Sunset hillforts, night walks and spots for wild camping. 250 Micro-breweries, artisan food, cosy pubs and foraging. 250 Campfire campsites, treehouses and remote hideaways. Truly something wild for everyone to get lost in.

The book is split into 26 different regional sections from North Norfolk to the High Weald, from Romney Marsh to the New Forest. This gives the different regions space to breathe and allows the authors to really dig into the wild areas hidden within. It also makes the book incredibly practical to use, one to leave in the car and always have at hand.

But what truly elevates this book is the quality of the photography and the sense that the authors have lived and breathed every square inch of the very sites they’re recommending. But first the photography, from family kayaking adventures with distant weirs and overhanging trees to ancient oaks with sprawling ent-like limbs. They also make great use of skinny dipping to evoke a sense of natural wildness. The photo that opens the Essex Coast and Creeks section features a lone nude man strolling down a jetty to a wild swim spot, partly obscured from reed beds but 100% released from urbanisation.

The quality of the photography shines throughout and there is a great use of aerial shots, one in the East Kent chapter captures the ancient Roman hill fort of Richborough from above. Revealing an ancient amphitheatre looming from the marshes. Later in the Isle of Wight section were treated to glimpses of a Red Squirrel and a shot of the Long Stone, an ancient burial mound and a place of worship where solstices and equinoxes are still celebrated. These top-class photos continually build a narrative of an undiscovered wildness lurking just beneath the surface, just within reach and waiting to be discovered.

Alongside the powerful narratives and compelling photos, the depth of research and variety of places really standouts out as well. There is something for everyone here. Don’t like wild swimming, well no problem what about foraging and high-quality local produce? Not a fan of wild camping then don’t worry there are quirky boutique trailers and glamping sites. There is something wild for everyone and the authors do a cracking job of uncovering these choices. Whether it’s a simple climb up the tower of St Helen’s church to look at spectacular Norfolk panoramas or exploring Fotheringhays ruined castle, finding the ‘Elves’ tree or going for a dusk swim in the Nene. There is wildness everywhere and with this guide London and the South East has never felt wilder!

This is truly an exceptional and high-quality guide, Wild Things Publishing is fast becoming the Lonely Planet of the wild swimming world and I’ve got a list as long as my arm of all the wild swimming and wild places in the South East that I want to explore now.

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