Open water & wild swimming

Come on in – the water’s lovely

While swimming has been a popular activity in the UK for generations, swimming outdoors in the sea, lakes and rivers is enjoying a revival, and the benefits to health are now well documented. Monmouthshire is blessed with several amazing places where you can enjoy so-called wild swimming or open water swimming. Even better, if you’re new to this activity, there are organised sessions to introduce you to swimming in lakes and rivers, safely.

Angela Jones runs Wild Swimming courses in a private lake on the beautiful Old-Lands country estate, which has been in the same family since the 1800s, and is run on traditionally green principles. It’s the perfect place to build your confidence as an outdoor swimmer – whatever your age and ability, and has the added benefits of a changing hut and eco-toilet. There are events for complete beginners, for improvers who want to build stamina and fitness in cold water, and even night swimming under the stars!

Why not extend your time on this beautiful estate, near Monmouth, with a short break in one of their holiday cottages? Produce from the walled garden and other local suppliers is available in their shop, and homemade meals can be delivered to your cottage. Explore the 200 acre estate on nature walks led by resident naturalist, Sam Bosanquet, and forest school activities for children.

As a wild swim specialist for over 30 years, Angela’s ethos is to promote the safe enjoyment of nature, while respecting and protecting the water. An avid campaigner for the protection of our rivers, Angela Jones was the 2021 Canoe Wales Environmental Champion. She regularly tests the quality of river water, and always before taking clients on a swim. Her vast knowledge and boundless energy shine through, as she encourages swimmers to discover the fun that can be had when embracing nature. Angela’s a marvellous example of the concept that if you do a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Her packed calendar includes Adventure Taster Days which combine swimming with kayaking, Night Kayaking along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, and the annual Great Usk Boomerang Swim where swimmers take on the challenge of the river Usk current to raise money for charity. The Guardian included Angela Jones’ activity sessions in their Best Outdoor Activity Days of 2021.

At Llandegfedd Lake near Usk, the open water swimming sessions are supervised by lifeguards. This 434-acre lake is accredited as a SAFE (Safe Aquatic Facility Endorsement) Cymru venue, and is playing a key role in the promotion of safe open water swimming in Wales. If you are a confident swimmer and feel at ease with distances of 400m indoors, try out one of the courses on Llandegfedd Lake – they range from 100m to 300m. To get started, book an induction, where you’ll learn the layout of the course, the signals used by the lifeguards, what you need to wear, and how to stay safe in cold water. Once you’ve completed the induction, you can go swimming straight away. Afterwards, warm up with a hot drink and a bite to eat in the lakeside café.

Remember, to enjoy the water and stay safe, it’s important to know your own limits and act sensibly. Check out the Wild Swimming Code from Natural Resources Wales for comprehensive advice.