New research by the University of Portsmouth in the UK has also found that wild swimming and cold water immersion have anti–inflammatory properties, helping to ease mental health conditions including depression and anxiety.  

It is my experience of the latter that brought me to wild swimming, dipping regularly in the famous bathing ponds on London’s Hampstead Heath. As the years have passed, I have travelled across the UK and Europe in search of the perfect place for a swim, from limestone plunge pools in the Yorkshire Dales to a reed–filtered pond in the suburbs of Antwerp.  

The chance to be closer to nature and gain a new perspective on the world, one where I’m part of nature as opposed to simply looking at it, while also slowing down my nervous system, is extremely powerful. It eases my worries and brings a sense of contentment and calm that I personally find hard to achieve when on dry land. 

The joy of wild swimming is that you don’t need to splash out on expensive equipment either. A simple bathing suit will do the trick, although those who really feel the cold or want to swim longer distances might want to opt for a wetsuit.  

A pair of neoprene shoes, similar to those worn by surfers, can come in handy when entering water where rocks and stones are abundant, but they’re not essential. Likewise, gloves and a hat can also come in handy, but only for those who want to go wild swimming as the weather cools off and the nights draw in. 

While splashing out on kit isn’t necessary, understanding the risks of wild swimming and ensuring you take care of your personal safety is paramount. You should always go wild swimming with others. Ideally, your group should include an experienced wild swimmer who understands the conditions and is able to assess risks.  

As well as providing safety in numbers, the social aspect of taking a dip in a river or lake together makes wild swimming even more fun. Not only will friends be able to keep an eye out for you, they’ll also give you the much needed impetus to brave the cold and get in in the first place.  

The cold is an inescapable part of the wild swimming experience – the endorphin rush you get after immersing yourself in cold water is powerful and addictive and a key reason why so many people have become such big fans of jumping into open water.  

But that’s not to say it’s easy to get in, or that you should feel forced to do so. If it feels too cold, get out. There are no medals for staying in longer than your friends and even if you only enjoy a quick dunk the benefits for your mood and mental wellbeing are every bit as strong as if you stay in for a while.  

However, you’ll find that the more you do it, the more your body will acclimatize to the cold, meaning you’ll be able to swim for longer. This process can take time – despite being a committed wild swimmer for more than a decade there are still occasions where my body decides it doesn’t fancy being in the water for more than a few minutes.  

I’ve learned to listen to it and swim back to shore and the warm embrace of my towel whenever this happens. On colder days, I make sure to have a flask of sweet coffee to hand, all the better for warming up quickly. 

Armed with some basic safety knowledge and a swimsuit, you’ll find that once you start wild swimming, you won’t want to stop. The urge to explore and discover new places and see nature from a new angle, not to mention the tangible benefits for your mental health, mean that this is a hobby that will quickly become a lifetime obsession.