Wild Swimming

[Earl Aelfheah]

Does anyone know of any good, (ideally lesser known) spots not too far from East Dulwich where you can swim?

[snowy]

Royal Docks? Not that close though

[brezzo]

Hi Rahrahrah

We drive out to Minster beach on Isle of Sheppey - less than ninety minutes from here, not much tide, steep beach so deep water good for swimming

[yorksgirl]

Beckenham Place Park. Don't recommend Royal Docks, the swim club people are lovely but place is horrible, City Airport planes usually overhead. Also you have to wear a wetsuit and it's ?8 a time. Beckenham is lovely, much more like 'wild' swimming.

[northernmonkey]

I don't think Beckenham is open at the moment though (or at least it wasn't a couple of weeks ago) - so best to check before heading over there.

[Friernlocal]

Beckenham Hall Place closed soon after it opened as the pool isn't supervised and so a risk. I was there last week and it's still fenced of.

[wulfhound]

I think London Fields Lido is still shut - Tooting definitely is.

West Reservoir in Haringey looks to be open - likely to be busy with everything else shut, but it's massive so you should be OK.

[KidKruger]

Rotherhithe beach is OK at high tide, there's a gate and steps next to Surrey Docks farm and you can dive in off the steps which make it easy to get out of the water too.

[gabys1st]

Rothergythe swimming.. be alert a week later for Weils iseaase symptoms..its carried by rats

[KidKruger]

Never seen any rats at high-tide, will keep an eye open tho !

[Earl Aelfheah]

Thanks for the tips

[SpringTime]

You're more likely to pick up Weil's disease if you're dipping at the edge of freshwater where it's slower moving and more likely to be stagnant, and especially if you have cuts. Infected cows' urine also contributes to Weil's disease - it isn't just down to rats. Accidentally swallowing water isn't a big factor. For the 10,000s of swimmers using UK freshwater every year the infection rates are low. Cover any cuts with plasters and always wash yourself properly after swimming. Have fun!

[nivag]

Hyde Park

[mikeb]

We love wild swimming but I've never heard of people entering the Thames at Rotherhithe - how fast flowing it is? (albeit high tide should be better)

[yorksgirl]

Suppose we all have our own definition of wild swimming and with it possibly our attitude to the idea of fences.

[rachelandharley]

I personally love the Royal Docks

[yorksgirl]

Friernlocal Wrote:

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> Beckenham Hall Place closed soon after it opened

> as the pool isn't supervised and so a risk. I was

> there last week and it's still fenced of.

Did you pick up whether anyone has thought of starting a group to run a volunteer lifeguard rota or fundraise for guards? Not the biggest challenge to fundraise for. There are people who will find a way to use it, by hook or whatever, but still, a terrible waste that it can't be open to all.

[KidKruger]

The place I mentioned is set-back from the river by several yards, so not too bad (I?m a weak swimmer).

mikeb Wrote:

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> We love wild swimming but I've never heard of

> people entering the Thames at Rotherhithe - how

> fast flowing it is? (albeit high tide should be

> better)

[katanita]

Beckhenham Place Park lake did reopen after the initial closure last year. I didn't have a chance to try it before it was closed with lockdown but there were people swimming there, supervised by lifeguards, in March this year. It looked like any changing facilities etc were very rudimentary or non-existent but perhaps someone will know more. It appears to still be closed https://lewisham.gov.uk/lake.

I actually loved swimming in the Royal Docks. It's a bit of a pig to get to from here but there is something quite amazing about the enormous space and being surrounded by the various buildings and industry and planes flying overhead. Yes it is a bit more expensive though and they are being very strictly managed currently to keep people safe. It is really for serious swimmers. You have to sign up for NOWCA membership but that gives you other opportunities.

There are also swims in the Thames listed on the NOWCA site https://nowca.org/nowca-lake-directory/. Not tried these.

[MelissaVF]

I'm also a big fan of the Royal Docks. Via same Actio/ Nocwa system you can swim at the Docklands Watersports Centre - slightly (not much) closer, and different vibe to Royal Docks. Easy to park if you're driving and both that and the Royal Docks are a really nice cycle from east Dulwich.

[katanita]

Can you share your cycle route to those @melissavf? I couldn't find one that looked very nice but that would make a big difference!

[david_carnell]

All depends what you mean by close. Grantchester meadows in Cambridgeshire are just a 90min drive away and you can have a lovely dip in the Cam.

There are parts of the River Mole in Surrey that you can go in for a dip and a splash but not really swimming. Near the stepping stones at the base of Box Hill is quite deep but lots of dogs.

Sea swimming off the Kent coast is often quite pleasant at this time of year. I swam at Deal a few years back and it was like a mill pond and pretty mild too.

[gabys1st]

SpringTime Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You're more likely to pick up Weil's disease if

> you're dipping at the edge of freshwater where

> it's slower moving and more likely to be "Fresh Water" is.,

> and especially if you have cuts. Infected cows'

> urine also contributes to Weil's disease - it

> isn't just down to rats. Accidentally swallowing

> water isn't a big factor. For the 10,000s of

> swimmers using UK freshwater every year the

> infection rates are low. Cover any cuts with

> plasters and always wash yourself properly after

> swimming. Have fun!

Good to read was thinking of Surrey Docks where water comparitely still...maybe i dont understand whater is. Yep I forgot a bout cuts - was going back years when I was working and a risk assessment wass taken when I was supporting peeps to sail. I did try argue minor risk but!!!!!

[doogleflip]

There?s Divers Cove bear Godstone, which will require membership and wetsuits but very nice. Or the river Medway. If you search for Ensfield Bridge near Tonbridge. Apparently good spot for wild swimming but yet to try it out.

[yorksgirl]

katanita Wrote:

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> Can you share your cycle route to those

> @melissavf? I couldn't find one that looked very

> nice but that would make a big difference!

Would love to see your suggested cycle route too please. The only way I know that I find safe is to go through Lewisham and Greenwich, take the Woolwich Ferry and double back. Sadly my electric bike can't do there and back without a charge. Going north of the river - as far as I know- means using the cycle route through Stratford which is definitely not safe, cyclists regularly mugged and bikes stolen.

Good to see some tips on wild swimming rather than open water swimming which is what Royal Docks and associated places do. The Open Water places are all very regulated, you can only swim a set route and you have wear a wetsuit. No pottering about.