Our love of wild swimming is taking a dip
By Kate Simon
Sewage pollution at Lake Windermere is no joke, but it’s caught the attention of some of Britain’s favourite comedians.
Steve Coogan, Lee Mack and Paul Whitehouse are among the stars who have raised their voices in protest about the ecological damage being done to England’s largest lake (pictured). Yesterday, they appeared at a special event in aid of the environmental charity Friends of the Lake District.
Speaking to ITV, Coogan described the situation as a “national scandal” and pointed the finger at water company United Utilities for paying out “£72bn in investor dividends whilst … not maintaining the integrity of the lake”. While Mack wondered “what other smaller lakes and waterways [are] having to handle”.
Indeed, Windermere isn’t the only body of water blighted by sewage. That’s evident to see from The Rivers Trust’s recently updated Sewage Map, which shows where effluent – treated and untreated overflows – is discharged into England’s rivers.
While the conservation charity aims to put pressure on the government and water companies to act, it is also intent on helping inform you and me about where it is unsafe to enter the water. This is particularly useful in the absence of official live spill data – the charity relies on its member trusts and the public to collate the information it shares.
The Rivers Trust cautions against bathing immediately downstream of these discharges and avoiding storm overflows especially after rain. Sound advice for newbies to wild swimming, a hobby that reached craze proportions during lockdown.
The magazine Outdoor Swimmer reported searches on its website for the term wild swimming were up by 94% in the teeth of Covid 19, while the Outdoor Swimming Society saw its membership increase by a third in 2020.
The Society, which is campaigning for a legal right to roam all bodies of water in England and Wales (it already exists in Scotland), is the publisher of the acclaimed The Outdoor Swimmers’ Handbook, written by its founder, Kate Rew. Daniel Start is another name to look out for in the world of wild swimming writing. His company Wild Things Publishing offers recommendable guides to the pursuit, and has an online Wild Swim Map, a collaborative guide by enthusiasts to where to find clean waters.
But could enthusiasm wane for splashing about outdoors? It feels like sewage spills are in the news almost daily, and the Environment Agency has officially approved only two stretches of river in England as swimming destinations – part of the River Wharfe at Ilkley in West Yorkshire and the River Thames in Oxford. And even the suitability of these have been questioned, as reported in a recent article in New Scientist.
It would be a shame for wild swimming to lose its appeal. It’s affordable and reputed to be good for the health. It also provides another fun way to explore Britain's backyard.
Phil’s Beer Notes
Waterside pubs have a peculiar attraction, the lapping of lakes and rivers creating a calming effect. And because of that, perhaps, you have to take special care the beer is as good as the location. That still leaves plenty to choose from, so here are just a few that spring to mind.
The Pandora Inn is a Cornish classic, dating back to the 13th Century, overlooking the Carrick Roads, upstream from Falmouth. You’ll find a full range of St Austell’s beers on the pumps, and you can savour them on the pub’s pontoon deck. It’s not easy to get to and it’s recommended you abandon the car and walk there – or take a water taxi!
Anchor Bleu in the West Sussex village of Bosham is one of my newest discoveries, even though it’s quite an ancient pub. There’s a fabulous view across Chichester Harbour from the decking at the back, and excellent beers from the Crafty Brewery in Godalming are featured on the bar.
While not actually on the water, if you’re on the Norfolk Broads the Fur & Feather at Woodbastwick is a must-visit. It’s the home of Woodforde’s Brewery, housed in picturesque thatched farm buildings.
Similarly, the Kirkstile Inn is perched between two bodies of water in the Lake District – Loweswater and Crummock Water – and is the Cumbrian Ales brewery tap, while Fyne Ales is at the head of beautiful Loch Fyne in the Scottish Highlands. Fyne is one of those brewers that seems incapable of making a bad beer and its tap room is open seven days a week.
Photo © ‘Lake Windermere at dawn’ by neilalderney123 licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.