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Wild swimming in the Lake District

Our staff's favourite swims


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Our staff's favourite swims
Swimming in the Lake District
Nothing comes close to a bracing dip on a hot day. Surround yourself in the mountain landscapes of the Lake District with our staff picks of the very best swim spots.

Delivery is on us until midnight on Monday.
Use the code SHIPBH at checkout.
Derwent Water
I’m super lucky to live in Keswick and to have the mountains and lakes on my doorstep, I have probably swum in every body of water, river, tarn and waterfall in and around Keswick. My go-to spot is Derwentwater because it’s close to me but also very accessible.

I have led many groups here, from taking first-time dippers to organising pancake day dips, Halloween night swims and supporting Mental Health groups. It’s the perfect place to wade out and be surrounded by mountains, trees and wildlife, yet close enough to town to get that post-dip hot drink and cake!

 
  - Abby, Keswick Store
Speedo swimwear
Speedo Women's
Speedo Men's
Eco Endurance+ Medalist Swimsuit
Speedo Essentials 16" Watershorts
Dryrobe
Dryrobe
Dryrobe
Advance Long Sleeved Special Edition
Advance Long Sleeved
Watendlath Tarn
This shallow tarn gets the sun for much of the day and is usually warm enough in summer that a wetsuit isn’t needed. It can be stony underfoot, so neoprene booties are a good idea. The nearby tea rooms and quiet surroundings offer great post-swim picnic opportunities.

The tarn can be accessed by the road up to Watendlath Bothy, but parking is limited. The drive from Keswick takes about 20 minutes.

For a fuller day out, a swim at Watendlath can be combined with a day’s hillwalking from Keswick. Starting out from the town, head up on good paths over Walla Crag, followed by Bleaberry Fell and High Seat, before descending to the tarn for a mid-way dip. Returning via Lodore Falls offers more beautiful views before winding back along the shores of Derwent Water to Keswick. The whole loop is around 20km, with around 700m of ascent, and makes for a full day out. Be sure to pack extra layers for the post-swim section of the walk.
 
  - Kerry, Online Team
Wetsuit boots
C-Skins
C-Skins
Adults Legend 5mm Zipped Boots
Hybrid Barefoot Shoe
Water safety
Zone3
Swim Safety LED Backpack/Dry Bag 28L
Our verdict: Zone3 Safety Buoy
Living in the South Lakes and swimming year-round, my swim safety buoy/dry bag gets about 100 uses a year and my car keys have remained dry for all of them!

 The buoy is easily big enough to keep me afloat when tired or having a chat with mates, and the handle on the top of the bag makes it easy to grab when needed. Crucially, it is also visible enough to let boats and lake users know where I am. On Windemere, where boats are a common hazard, this is perhaps its most important function.

 Despite its size, this is one of the easier floats to pull through the water, with impressively low drag for the buoyancy it offers. The leash is long enough that it doesn’t interfere when swimming front crawl. Like all good safety kit, I don’t notice it's there until I need it.

  - Kerry, Web Team
Free shipping continues
We're waiving delivery charges until midnight on Monday.

Use the code SHIPBH at checkout.

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Ellis Brigham Ltd, P.O. Box 491 M5 0AE, UK
Tel: 0800 035 6483
Registered No: 06836989 | VAT REG No. 971006343
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