What can you say about “wild” swimming and The Lakes?
Everyone is a winner!
Angle Tarn
Location
- Approx 8m west of Chapel Stile to the west of Langdale Fell. You can walk in most of the way along the Cumbria Way footpath
Grid Ref
- NY245/077
Features
- A refreshing swim with the dramatic scenery of Esk Pike in the background.
Hazards
- None really. Having said that walkers do just appear from “no-where”!
Date
- 23rd July 2017
Allcock Tarn (near Grasmere)
(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)
Location
Approx 1km due east of Grasmere. There are loads of pleasant walks up to it from the A591.
Grid Ref
NY348/078
Features
I’d like to say “remarkably warm (for the time of year)”, but there may be photographic proof that it wasn’t. Not that bad though. Good access and plenty of grass/moorland to sunbath on (in the Summer).
Hazards
SAGA walking groups settle down to their hampers and watch anyone stupid enough to go in.
Date of Last Swim
Late January 2003
Arnside Tarn (near Tarn Howes)
(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)
Location
Situated 0.5km to north of Tarn Howes. Follow the Cumbrian Way footpath until it meets the dam in front of Arnside.
Grid Ref
NY 332/012
Features
Lovely quiet (ish) spot, surprising given its so close to Tarn Howes.
Hazards
Not as deep as it looks!!
Date of Last Swim
31st May 2008
River Brathay (between Elter Water and Windermere)
(A FIVE TRUNK location)
Location
Park in the car park (pay & display I’m afraid) on east side of B5343 0.5km to north of Skelwith Bridge. Cross the road and follow the footpath down to the river and pick your spot.
Grid Ref
NY 338/037
Features
Good stretch of deep water with its “own car park”
Hazards
Its pretty deep in places so don’t expect to stand on the bottom for long. However, the biggest hazard for those who can swim is crossing the B5343
Date of Last Swim
25th July 2009
Blea Tarn (near Langdale)
(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)
Location
- Approx 4m west of Chapel Stile near Langdale Fell. There is a nearby car park, but you could always park at the Old Dungeon Gill pub and walk from there.
Grid Ref
- NY234/044
Features
- Excellent views and not that deep so usually warmer than other Tarns/Lakes
Hazards
- None really. Pick your route in as in some places its doesn’t get deep for some distance.
Hazards
- Watch out for weeds and more importantly branches at bottom of lake.
Date
- 22nd July 2017
Coledale Beck (nr Braithwaite)
(The setting is a FIVE TRUNK, and the swimming is FOUR)
Location
On very edge of Braithwaite (nr Keswick). Access is from the S bank of the river but difficult to find. Follow the track near the chapel/church and you will find parking.
Grid Ref
NY228/235
Features
Concrete access (they must get alot of visitors in the summer) into quite a large pool in the Coledale Beck. Rumours of VI form girls swimming here regularly proved false (even the 30something x VI form girl with me didn’t join in!).
Hazards
Watch your feet. A few cans/bottles on the bottom and quite a few bits of wood.
Date of Last Swim
Early October 2002
Crummock Water
(The setting is a FIVE TRUNK, and the swimming is FIVE)
Location
There is plenty of good access from a footpath that runs along the W side of Crummock Water. A few good places exist on the E side but its not as pleasant because the B5289 runs dead near the lake.
Grid Ref
TBC
Features
Nice easy access (a bit stoney) on the W side and a few places for diving/jumping. Reasonably warm even in October.
Hazards
None really
Date of Last Swim
Early October 2002
Holme Fell “disused” reservoir
Location
- Park by Yew Tree Tarn on A593 c. 4km north-east of Coniston and walk up Holme Fell from there.
Grid Ref
- NY318/012
Features
- Easy access. Deep and shallow water. Excellent views (when sunny)
Hazards
- Fairly busy part of Lakes but less busy for a swim than Tarn Howes
Date
- September 2018
Loughrigg Tarn
(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)
Location
Located c. 2km west of Ambleside. Take a minor road from Skelwith Bridge and park where you can once you can see the Tarn.
Grid Ref
NY 345/045
Features
Easy and shallow access from pretty well anywhere on the east side of the Tarn. Despite being close to Ambleside it doesn’t get too busy (for the Lakes that is!!)
Hazards
None more than the “usual”
Date of Last Swim
30th May 2008
Red Tarn (near Glenridding)
(This is a FIVE TRUNK swim)
Location
To the east of Helvellyn probably best accessed from Glenridding.
Grid Ref
NY350/153
Features
Fabulous setting with view of the Striding Edge and Swirral Edge routes up Helvellyn. Surprisingly there are even small beaches so access is easy.
Hazards
I remember on other occasions its been quite cold (its deep and shaded from the sun most of the day).
Date of Last Swim
30th August 2003
Rydal Water (near Grasmere)
(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)
Location
Situated about 1km east of Grasmere so park where/when-ever you find a place. Footpath on west? side of lake that provides easy access to the water.
Grid Ref
NY 355/065
Features
Easy access, quite shallow (so relatively warm) and two islands to swim round (what more could you ask for?!!)
Hazards
Watch out for two swans that seem to patrol the Lakes trying to deter swimmers!!!
Date of Last Swim
July 2010
Tarn Hows (near Coniston)
(This is a FIVE TRUNK swim, I just wish I could find a photo to do it justice)
!!! PHOTO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST !!!
Location
Its about 3km NE of Coniston on a C-road off the A593
Grid Ref
SD998/328 (you can actually swim from OS 100ha square SD to NY)
Features
Lovely, lovely, lovely. Great setting and I swear the water sometimes seem heated.
Hazards
Very popular (avoid the middle part of day).
Date of Last Swim
July 2017
Thirlmere
Location
- Approx 7km south of Threlkeld. Its difficult to find access to the water on the east (A591) side of the lake but much better on the west where there is a minor road. However, one spot on the east is across from the Wythburn Chapel car park.
Grid Ref
- NY323/138
Features
- Easy access once you get down to the water and even some grassy areas.
Hazards
- If you try to go in on the east side crossing the A591 is a genuine hazard.
Date
- 23rd July 2017
Ullswater
(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)
Location
Ullswater is big and I’m sure there are plenty of swimming spots. I went in on the east shore just north of Devils Chimney where the footpath gets quite close to the lake and theres a small beach.
Grid Ref
SH394/178
Features
Good views and easy access (you commit quite quickly due to the shelf).
Hazards
More weeds than I was expecting.
Date of Last Swim
31st August 2003
Wastwater
(This is a FIVE TRUNK swim)
Location
Wast Water is in the SW Lakes near (but not too near) Sellafield. You can get in pretty well anywhere. My favourite spot (shown above) is just south of the junction of two minor road (the only one) on the west side of the lake.
Grid Ref
NY 151/053
Features
WHAT A SETTING. Surely the most dramatic of all the Lakes!
Hazards
In the past I remember the water always being icy cold, but it didn’t seem overly cold on this occasion.
Date of Last Swim
23rd July 2004
Whelpside Gill
Location
- Approx 1km north of Wythburn. You can park in the car park by the chapel and follow the forest track northwards.
Grid Ref
- NY327/138
Features
- OK. I have to be honest in that the photo above makes this look like a great spot, but it isn’t really. Like most of the streams coming off Hellvelyn there just aren’t decent sized natural pools you get elsewhere. This pool, which is right next to the forest track, was only 40cm deep but being hot after climbing Hellvelyn it was a much needed dip!
Hazards
- Probably best to look upstream incase there are any boulders or trees about to come crashing down on top of you!
Date
- 24th July 2017