We are a real sucker for beautifully created and thoughtfully curated outdoor swimming guides. As you can imagine for aquatic siblings these guides act as creative fuel when we have to endure the pain of being in landlubber form. So when we heard about the new ‘Outdoor Swimming Guide” from Vertebrate Publishing we jumped at the chance to review it.

The guide features over 400 of the best lidos, wild swimming and open-air swimming spots in England, Scotland and Wales. It’s edited by dedicated aquaphile (we’ve made that up but think it will stick!) Kathy Rogers. It’s a really handy-sized guide perfect for packing in your rucksack or car as the essential companion for a wild swimming holiday or staycation.

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We’ve explored lots of swimming spots up and down the country, especially in the Lake District and Cumbria where we grew up. But we were pleasantly surprised by how many of the locations we had never heard of. The research and effort put in to find the best outdoor swimming spots is admirable.

The guide really is incredibly comprehensive and covers a vast amount of swim spots all over England, Scotland and Wales. There are many hidden gems. For instance, I visited the small medieval town of Arundel in the South of England last year to do some trout fishing in the chalk streams there. As you walk through the sleepy town there is an outdoor heated lido in the shadow of the castle. It’s tucked away though so you’d have to be looking out for it and it’s a little bit of a walk from the main centre. I wondered ooo I wonder if that has made it into the book, and there it was, Arundel Lido with a write up which included mermaid swimming and lessons for people suffering from dementia.

This attention to detail carried on throughout the whole book whether it was detailing really practical tips on parking, access and transport to well-known spots like Frensham Ponds or shedding light on undiscovered tidal pools on the Cornish Coast. The colour coordinated sections make it very easy to navigate and easy and practical to use. It is the simple and easy-to-use format, concise introduction and thorough details that make this the perfect guide to swimming in Great Britain. The guide gives useful information on entry and access, transport links, safety tips as well as facilities. It’s practically a lonely planet for outdoor swimming!

This is essential reading for the waterlogger in you and a perfect guide for expert swimmers who are looking to discover secret spots or for beginners who are looking for their first outdoor swim.

You can check out the book and get a copy of it - now

24. Soldier’s Leap - River Garry broadening as it exits Soldier’s Leap, Killiecrankie - James Carron

The Outdoor Swimming Guide - Book Review