From Wales to Whitstable, via Canada and New Zealand, Head of Product Liz, describes the joys and slight madness of cold water swimming.
Frost glistening on the pebbles, the sun just peeking above the horizon, and the sea a bracing 3 degrees. The sound of the waves and the seagulls are temporarily overshadowed by squeals (and the occasional swear word) as we we enter the water… Admittedly this might not be everyone’s ideal way to start the day, but a cold-water dip on a beautiful winter’s morning is not to be underestimated! The swim is brief, but the sense of wellbeing and invigoration lasts throughout the day.
Good for body and soul
There’s been lots of research on the benefits of cold-water swimming, but to be honest it’s all mumbo-jumbo to me. I’ve still not worked out what ‘brown fat’ is and I’m not convinced I’m any fitter or healthier as a result. But there’s no denying it’s good for the soul – when your mind and body are focusing on, well, avoiding hypothermia, there’s really no space to worry about anything else! And the exhilaration of immersing yourself, screaming at the sky, and laughing your head off with a bunch of people you have nothing in common with, but have somehow instantly bonded with, is priceless. Afterwards we watch the sun’s rays bounce off the water as we huddle round hotwater bottles and hot chocolate, ready to face whatever the day throws at us.
From Pembrokeshire to the Poles
From the surf of Pembrokeshire to New Zealand’s Southern Lakes, I’ve had a lifelong love of the water and being in, on, or near it in some form. But it’s only since moving to Whitstable in recent years that I’ve been able to indulge on a more regular basis, swapping chlorinated pools for the wide open ocean (aka the Thames Estuary). The salty sea is my favourite place to be, but I’ve also dipped in some spectacular lakes and rivers over the years. Living in Banff, in the Canadian Rockies, there was no better way to end the day than with a post-work picnic and swim at the spectacular Cascade Ponds. In Queenstown, New Zealand, my days off were spent swimming in Lake Johnson – several degrees warmer than the deep cold waters of Lake Wakatipu.
More recently my travels have taken me to Costa Rica, where I found my own private waterhole in the middle of the rainforest. Certainly a lot warmer than the north Kent coast, but with the added fear of snakes to overcome! Last autumn I took a particularly brisk dip at Ersfjordstranda, on Norway’s stunning Senja Island. In and out in a matter of minutes, although not quite as quickly as my iciest plunge at the North Pole…
Finding your favourite swim spot
If, like Liz, you find your happy place in and around water, we’ll help you plan a trip around remarkable places and ways you can take the plunge. From serene forest lakes in Finland to a fjord sauna in Norway, cool dips in the Canadian Rockies to hot springs in Iceland, dive right in. Get in touch…