*ICE DIPPING * Your beginners guide. The thrill of cold water might be calling but there is a lot more to consider when winter swimming in The Lake District and beyond. Below are six extra things to consider when you head out into the cold water. Rydal Water Photos like this – and many you’ve seen from swimmers recently – looks great fun! What you don’t see is the preparation and control that goes in to these swims. Always go with a friend not just someone to take pictures for the gram, but to be your safety, know where the emergency kit is and look out for you. Winter Swimming in The Lake D ..read more

I was recently on a podcast, The Missing Peace with Becca Guy We talked about all things Wild Swimming, The Lake District and the joy of being outside. We also covered the mental health benefits of Wild Swimming, something I don’t often share.  The mental health benefits of wild swimming are not unknown. There’s a study in the British Medical Journal about swimming as a treatment for depressive disorders it claims that patients with diagnosed depression who have taken on a course of Wild Swimming has meant ‘an immediate improvement in mood following each swim and a sustained and gradual r ..read more

I’ve been swimming for a few years now and there are a few tricks and tips I’ve learnt along the way that help me stay warm and have fun.  Woolly Hats. They look great and keep my head warm. Most of the time I’m not putting my head in the water so these are a fab way to keep my noggin toasty whilst also helping you be seen from the bank.  Reducing the faff! I often swim before work in the morning or whilst out on a walk in the summer so reducing faff and not hanging around whilst getting changed is important for time and helping you get warm quicker. I normally sack off underwear bec ..read more

This article was written by Ali, founder of Always Swimming Wild, for Outdoor Provisions and originally published on Jan 26, 2021. Scales Tarn – January 2021. Photo by Ian DoctorTotal immersion There is nothing quite like winter swimming. The burn, the wild weather, the absolute joy that comes from complete and total immersion in something. It’s as much about the psychological challenge as it is the physical. Okay, i’ll admit, it’s waaaay easier to swim in the summer. Shorts, flip flops, walking home wet. Feeling like you need to swim just to cool off after a run. But that amazing feeling swim ..read more

[Article first written by the founder of alwaysswimmingwild.com (Ali Phillips) for publication on the George Fisher Website – May 2021] Wild swimming has boomed in popularity over the last year and the Lake District is a brilliant place to take your first dip. Ali Phillips is a Keswick-based blogger and wild swimmer who loves exploring the Lake District to find new swimming spots.  Ali has recently become a wild swimming guide and is looking forward to spending the summer taking people swimming across the Lake District The question I always get asked;  Why ? Ask a wild or open ..read more