Plunging into an ice cold pool or into the sea may sound like total madness, but plenty of people up and down the county will be jumping in this festive season to reinvigorate their senses!
Rivers and lakes tend to feel much colder in winter, but the difference in sea temperature between summer and winter isn’t as big. Nevertheless, if you’re not brave enough to go bare skinned, then hire a triathlon wetsuit (which are more suited to swimming than surfing ones) and add on a neoprene hat, gloves and boots. Swimming in numbers will also make the experience much safer and of course more enjoyable. Check out the safe swimming advice from the Outdoor Swimming Society to make sure you’re not caught out by the winter conditions.
Here are a few festive swims that we know of being organised around the country, and feel free to add any that you know of in our comments section below.
South East
Join Brighton Swimming Club, the oldest in the country, for a fancy dress dip on Christmas Day.
Albion Beach by Brighton Pier, 11am
East Anglia
This popular Christmas Day swim has been going since 1957, so there must be something addictive about swimming in the Wash that keeps the hundreds of participants coming back year after year.
Central Promenade, Hunstanton 11am
Wales
Burn off the pudding on Boxing day by taking a dip at the 100 year old Tenby sponsored swim. If you manage to raise over £20 you’ll get a free t-shirt (to warm up your body) and it’s all for a good cause (which should warm up your heart, aaah…).
North Beach, Tenby 11.30am
Scotland
More than a thousand people took part in the Loony Dook New Year’s Day swim in 2011, many in fancy dress and all for charity. It’s spectacular way to see in the New Year; if you manage that on the first day of the year then who knows where the rest of 2012 could take you!
River Forth, South Queensferry – Grand Parade departs 11am
photo credit: Lauri Väin
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Hi and welcome. I'm a freelance travel and lifestyle copywriter and editor, with a passion for the great outdoors. This is my personal blog all about getting out in the fresh air and reconnecting with our green spaces and countryside.
The Christmas morning swim at Sennen is a must-do event, en-masse entry at 11am sharp, no wetsuits allowed, donations to charity (decided on the day generally by the organisors) and this year you may even see a few bellyboards surfing in the cheering throng… perfect way to earn your Christmas turkey!