Wild/Open water Swimming

[keef32]

I'm signing up to another Triathlon for next year, this time it involves open water swimming. Would ideally start the training in a pool but they are not open.

Never really done it before so was looking to start small and work my way into it.

Does anyone know anywhere in the Peak District that is good for it?

I'm also off to Ingleton in September so would also like to know of any spots up there? I know the lakes is just over an hour away so that's the obvious choice but was after somewhere closer if possible.

Cheers

 

[sirch]

There isn't a lot of open water in the Dales, there are some stretches of the River Lune close by that you could swim in and there is Killington lake near Kendal which is closer than going to the main lakes in the Lake District

 

[keef32]

There isn't a lot of open water in the Dales, there are some stretches of the River Lune close by that you could swim in and there is Killington lake near Kendal which is closer than going to the main lakes in the Lake District

Id seen Killington Lake when I was checking out the maps so might be worth a little drive. Ill check out the river lune

 

[sirch]

There's good access to the Lune at Kirkby Londsdale, the better part for swimming is probably down stream from Devils Bridge which means you would be swimming upstream on the way back which might be good training but being a river and not a lake I guess you need to take it into account.

 

[troutfisher]

Might be worth investigating Semmerwater near leyburn

 

[keef32]

There's good access to the Lune at Kirkby Londsdale, the better part for swimming is probably down stream from Devils Bridge which means you would be swimming upstream on the way back which might be good training but being a river and not a lake I guess you need to take it into account.

I'd looked at the Lune, the best spot seems to be near Halton at Crook O' Lune, but think it might be a bit out of the way. With the annoucement yesterday I should be able to get soem pool practice in before I go so river might not be out the question. Will keep an eye! Thanks

Might be worth investigating Semmerwater near leyburn

I'd looked at Semmerwater.. I'm not sure on if swimming is allowed, seems to be private owned so will ask . There is a little tale about how it was formed as well

 

[sirch]

Halton at Crook O' Lune, but think it might be a bit out of the way.

It's about 20-30 mins from Ingleton and it's a very popular spot if the weather is good. There is an outdoor pool at Ingleton but I don't think that is going to open.

 

[AgentOrange76]

7 awesome wild swimming spots in the Peak District

From a dip in distant tarn to a plunge in a river with views of a stately home, these are the best wild swimming spots in the Peak District.

www.redbull.com

quick google search?

 

[keef32]

7 awesome wild swimming spots in the Peak District

From a dip in distant tarn to a plunge in a river with views of a stately home, these are the best wild swimming spots in the Peak District.

www.redbull.com

quick google search?

I'd looked at that, from what I remember as a kid, Slippery Stones & Three Shires Head aren't that big so wont really get much Triathlon trianing in (happy to be corrected).

Probably will be River Derwent in the Peaks and might have a nip to Huddersfield for Sparth.

 

[keef32]

It's about 20-30 mins from Ingleton and it's a very popular spot if the weather is good. There is an outdoor pool at Ingleton but I don't think that is going to open.

I've misjudged that one haha

 

[Nikon Ken]

Semer Water used to be the venue for swimming element of Yorkshire Dales Ironman Triathlon - I used to arrange and run kayak safety cover for the event.
Their website suggests swimming may still be available - see here.

 

[keef32]

Semer Water used to be the venue for swimming element of Yorkshire Dales Ironman Triathlon - I used to arrange and run kayak safety cover for the event.
Their website suggests swimming may still be available - see here.

I didn't get swimming was allowed from it listing all the things you can do there but not mentioning swimming. Ill look more into it though

 

[keef32]

I've invested in a drybag/float thingy to be nice and safe, some new goggles and a wetsuit.

Also joined a Sheffield Outdoor Swimming facebook page for some swim spot inspiration to give it a try locally.

 

[JohnC6]

I've invested in a drybag/float thingy to be nice and safe, some new goggles and a wetsuit.

Also joined a Sheffield Outdoor Swimming facebook page for some swim spot inspiration to give it a try locally.

Sounds very sensible to me considering the below....

Exclusive: water firms discharged raw sewage into England's rivers 200,000 times in 2019

Untreated effluent flowed into waterways for more than 1.5m hours, data shows

www.theguardian.com

I'm all for outdoor pursuits but I'd hesitate re swimming in rivers and the reason is that there are, at present no rivers in England that are officially recognised as being safe to swim in and the reason is that lawfully, when excessive rainfall overwhelms a sewage pumping station raw sewage can be pumped into a river..I don't think that many people realise this.

There are 12 inland lakes used by swimmers which sound a better option than rivers considering that there are 16,000 sites where untreated sewage can,legally, be pumped into rivers in 'exceptional circumstances' and that's, generally, a deluge of rain which we get increasingly more often put down to climate change. In these cases the pumping station becomes overwhelmed.In 2019, in England, there were 200,000 discharges of raw sewage into rivers.There's a risk,albeit rare, of contracting Weil's disease (from infected rats' urine) and it can enter the body through cuts, scratches, nose and mouth ,infact the double Olympic gold medalist (rowed alongside Steve Redgrave)Andy Holmes contracted it and died in 2010. There are about 50 cases a year in the UK. Some years ago I felt I had to tell my neighbour that her two boys were e playing in the nearby stream which I knew had rats in it. She'd never heard of Weil's disease .The next time we spoke she said she'd found out what it is and stopped the boys playing there.

On the brighter side The water can be tested https://www.simplexhealth.co.uk/how...-water-for-bathing-or-swimmingis-cms-104.html

A very real example is Warleigh Weir ,near Bath/Bristol is a great place to photograph steam locos on their way to and from the West Country ..it's also used by people to 'cool off' in hot weather and I've seen several photos recently of lots of people (including children) there during the hot days that we've been having..weeks in fact.

Owner of wild swimming spot reacts to sewage being dumped upstream

Wessex Water has responded

www.bristolpost.co.uk

On a tripadvisor post re this weir one person said his friend got his foot stuck in the carcass of a cow.

WARLEIGH WEIR: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

www.tripadvisor.co.uk

July 18th article re river Wharfe https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...onment-ministers-blocking-bathing-application

Pollution: no river in England is safe for swimming

Dangerous pollutants in England’s waterways have reached their highest levels since modern testing began, The Times can reveal, with no river in the country now certified as safe for swimmers. Wild swimming has surged in popularity, with tens of thousands of people bathing in countryside rivers and

www.thetimes.co.uk

I really don't mean to come across as a killjoy but wild swimming is taking off and I'm sure I'd be right in thinking that most of those who take part in it and the casual swimmmers (on hot days) have no idea about what's in the water in the way of pollutants. England is amongst the most polluted (worst water quality) in Europe.

Best bet is to sort out the testing..as per the link above.

 

[keef32]

Sounds very sensible to me considering the below....

Exclusive: water firms discharged raw sewage into England's rivers 200,000 times in 2019

Untreated effluent flowed into waterways for more than 1.5m hours, data shows

www.theguardian.com

I'm all for outdoor pursuits but I'd hesitate re swimming in rivers and the reason is that there are, at present no rivers in England that are officially recognised as being safe to swim in and the reason is that lawfully, when excessive rainfall overwhelms a sewage pumping station raw sewage can be pumped into a river..I don't think that many people realise this.

There are 12 inland lakes used by swimmers which sound a better option than rivers considering that there are 16,000 sites where untreated sewage can,legally, be pumped into rivers in 'exceptional circumstances' and that's, generally, a deluge of rain which we get increasingly more often put down to climate change. In these cases the pumping station becomes overwhelmed.In 2019, in England, there were 200,000 discharges of raw sewage into rivers.There's a risk,albeit rare, of contracting Weil's disease (from infected rats' urine) and it can enter the body through cuts, scratches, nose and mouth ,infact the double Olympic gold medalist (rowed alongside Steve Redgrave)Andy Holmes contracted it and died in 2010. There are about 50 cases a year in the UK. Some years ago I felt I had to tell my neighbour that her two boys were e playing in the nearby stream which I knew had rats in it. She'd never heard of Weil's disease .The next time we spoke she said she'd found out what it is and stopped the boys playing there.

On the brighter side The water can be tested https://www.simplexhealth.co.uk/how...-water-for-bathing-or-swimmingis-cms-104.html

A very real example is Warleigh Weir ,near Bath/Bristol is a great place to photograph steam locos on their way to and from the West Country ..it's also used by people to 'cool off' in hot weather and I've seen several photos recently of lots of people (including children) there during the hot days that we've been having..weeks in fact.

Owner of wild swimming spot reacts to sewage being dumped upstream

Wessex Water has responded

www.bristolpost.co.uk

On a tripadvisor post re this weir one person said his friend got his foot stuck in the carcass of a cow.

WARLEIGH WEIR: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

www.tripadvisor.co.uk

July 18th article re river Wharfe https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...onment-ministers-blocking-bathing-application

Pollution: no river in England is safe for swimming

Dangerous pollutants in England’s waterways have reached their highest levels since modern testing began, The Times can reveal, with no river in the country now certified as safe for swimmers. Wild swimming has surged in popularity, with tens of thousands of people bathing in countryside rivers and

www.thetimes.co.uk

I really don't mean to come across as a killjoy but wild swimming is taking off and I'm sure I'd be right in thinking that most of those who take part in it and the casual swimmmers (on hot days) have no idea about what's in the water in the way of pollutants. England is amongst the most polluted (worst water quality) in Europe.

Best bet is to sort out the testing..as per the link above.

Thanks for the information. I'll bear it in mind.