With all the beauty of the lakes and wild natural swimming holes, there is something special about swimming in the wild near to, or even under a waterfall. Read Next The absolute best way up Scafell Pike. 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. Eskdale is one of the most beautiful places in the Lake District. Look at the websites for the Lake District and for Cumbria, for any information and guidelines before you set out. Here you can enjoy wilder and shallower waters. The Lake District's most beautiful villages | House & Garden You will still have to be aware of smaller craft like canoes and sailing boats, but your overall experience may be improved. Kail pot and Pillar pot are 25 minutes from the car park; Tongue Pot is 20 minutes further. In terms of majesty it has to be one of the most incredible waterfalls in England. The only thing to watch out for is a little bit of boggy terrain, not to reach every pool, but to reach a couple of goodies. Sign up to receive the very best of OS and its group of companies, straight to you by email. We used to talk about travelling the world together, and in 2012 we finally made that happen. Set up camp here for an afternoon and spend your time cooling off in the falls, jumping in from their swing rope or taking a walk along the valley. Although reaching the top of the falls is easy and on a well maintained track, getting to the base does involve a short scramble. Wild Swimming Walks Lake District - 28 lake, river and waterfall days Make sure that you are always aware of your surroundings. Best for Waterfalls: Cascata Plera, Tolmezzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia A waterfall drops into a true blue pool over the this funnel of rock. Tongue Pot 13. While on a cold day the setting might look a little forbidding, find a warm sunny afternoon and youre in for a treat. Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. Its only 100m between the wooden bridge and the base of the upper falls, but its definitely not for everyone. From waterfall splash pads to stunning blue holes, these swimming spots will make your summer memorable. Wild swimming: the UK's best outdoor swim spots - The Week UK Given that its located in Ambleside, Stock Ghyll Force is one of the better known waterfalls in the Lake District. If you only want to see the lower falls (not the best view) then the walk doesnt involve any scrambling. It takes just a few minutes, but would be slippery after rain, so it does require care. Now thats not a bad feeling to have. This workshop helps you to feel relaxed, safe and happy in cold and wild water . We spent our childhood exploring the lakes, tarns, rivers and waterfalls that are sprinkled all over this corner of Northwest England. If you're looking for the best paddling and wild swimming Peak District locations, then grab your swimmers and a towel, and read on. As previously mentioned, wetsuits, bright swimming caps and tow floats can be very important. 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! We've rounded up the area's most beautiful villages, towns and hamlets ahead of your next northern getaway. With the largest waterfall in the Lake District, Scale Force, on one side, Rannerdale on the other and also the starting point for the River Cocker. Even walking during a hot dry summer, it was boggy and it would be much worse in wetter times. This is not the only infinity pool in the Lake District, but it is one of the most beautiful. 19 Stunning Lake District Waterfalls You Just Have To See Companies like Head for the Hills also do beginners and advanced courses in open water swimming. You can reach the falls via several different tracks, most of which are very quick and easy. Black Moss Pot can get a little busy in the summer holidays and on weekends. 2023 - Walk My World. From the car park (details below), the walk heads out onto the road and past the pub before turning right, through the gate (after 70m). Although the track is generally in good condition, small parts of it can be boggy year round. The trail is now climbing up alongside the stream, its rocky, but not difficult. Located in the peaceful western side of The Lake District, Cumbria, the Stanley Ghyll Force waterfall plummets 60 feet into a secluded gorge. 17 Best Wild Swimming Spots in the Lake District - Hot Tub Hideaways As one of the smallest lakes in the Lake District, Rydal Water is a peaceful and serene place to go for a wild swim. Along the same river (and walking track) youll find crystal clear swimming holes ranging from turquoise to emerald green. Park at Coniston Hall (LA21 8AS) and walk south, or disembark at Hoathwaite Landing and walk north (or walk from Torver, LA21 8AX). The only difficult part of the track is negotiating the bog. Added to that, the walk itself is very pretty, with some great fell views. There has been a boom in this activity in recent years, with many taking to the wild waters of the Lake District to relax, refresh, and challenge themselves. Following us on social media, using our resource page or buying us a coffee, helps keep Anywhere We Roam on the road. The wild swimming locations on our list aremore remote than many others. Located off Ullswater, this deep water underneath an intimidating cliff can be enjoyed by jumpers and wild swimmers alike. Unfortunately due to ongoing rockfall risk, the bottom of the falls is closed and therefore you can no longer swim here. Wild swims don't come with swankier views than this. Walk length: 2.1 miles (3.5km) returnDifficulty: Moderate. Find nearby walking routes below. IN THIS GUIDE // LAKE DISTRICT WILD SWIMMING. As we venture down the rocky trail, dew clings to the long grasses either side of the path like shards of tiny crystals catching the early morning light. Stanley Ghyll Waterfall is one of the most atmospheric in the Lake District. 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. Park at the White Moss Cas Park on the A591, then walk for 20 minutes anti-clockwise around the lake. Expect the water to be cold and go in bit by bit if youre not used to cold water swimming. Walk length: 2.6 miles (4.3km) returnDifficulty: Easy. Sign up to our mailing list to get our free mini guide! The 10 best Wild Swim spots in the Lake District National PArk From here you retrace your steps for 1.4 miles (2.2km) along the flat path to the car park. 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. You need to walk to the left of the lower falls and youll see a rocky slab. ULLSWATER LAKE (Lake District) - All You Need to Know - Tripadvisor However, early morning and sunset are personal favourites especially setting out from places like Ashness Jetty. This is not as well known as some of our other pools and waterfalls which makes it such a special and tranquil place to be, deep in the middle of the forest. Leaving Wales off our guide to wild swimming locations in the UK was never an option. Mountaineer and wild swimmer Pete Kelly on his new book Wild Swimming 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. At a massive length of over 10 miles and 1 mile in width it can seem scary to the newer wild swimmers out there, but please do not be disheartened. This stream has beautiful water to swim in wild through a breath-taking gorge. Waterfalls in the Lake District | Wild Swimming | Lifehop Best wild swimming in the Lake District to soak your limbs at the end of a day. One-hour driver. Its impressive heights reach 170 feet, with two separate falls at 20 feet and the water force puts on an amazing show after heavy rainfall, which is a regular . If you think you need to fly to a far off tropical destination to get your turquoise water fix, think again. There are shallow spots on this list suitable for anyone, but others are very deep. After a long hike, Loughrigg Tarn is the perfect place to relax tired limbs and unwind. Kailpot Crag 17. The stone steps are uneven, but they only last for 250m. Its the perfect spot for a rejuvenating wake-up swim. Open water swimming is one of our favourite things to do in the Lake District. Accessing the pool is easy as you can just walk straight in, but just watch for slippery stones underfoot. This fantastic little lake is an old reservoir above Coniston and a fabulous place to escape to. Rydal Grot is a magical little spot and one of the easiest to get to on this list. 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. Pinpoint. This delightful village lies in the heart of Exmoor's moorland and provides a wonderful place to swim. Wild Swimming Spain: Discover the Most Beautiful Rivers, Lakes and Waterfalls of Spain Discover over 150 magical places to swim and explore in Spain. At the southern end of Ullswater, in the town of Glenridding, gently sloping beaches descend into a beautiful part of the lake. Breathtaking Waterfalls in the Lake District - Hot Tub Hideaways From this point on the scenery gets even better. After 200m youll come to a fork, and the easiest route at this point is to bear right. All Rights Reserved. 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.