.jpg)
Rick Stein, outdoor swimmer
Among the participants at the Padstow to Rock swim last weekend, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care, was chef Rick Stein, who runs several restaurants in Padstow. Rick is a keen outdoor swimmer and answered some questions from the OSS about the event an... More >
Among the participants at the Padstow to Rock swim last weekend, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care, was chef Rick Stein, who runs several restaurants in Padstow. Rick is a keen outdoor swimmer and answered some questions from the OSS about the event an... More >
Wild swimming at the Port Eliot Festival
Susie Parr on her experiences swimming outdoors at Port Eliot Whenever I am walking by rivers, lakes or the sea, I feel compelled to look for somewhere to swim. I know exactly what I like: clear, calm water; easy access to depth; and beautiful, wild... More >
Susie Parr on her experiences swimming outdoors at Port Eliot Whenever I am walking by rivers, lakes or the sea, I feel compelled to look for somewhere to swim. I know exactly what I like: clear, calm water; easy access to depth; and beautiful, wild... More >
OSS river lido at Port Eliot
On 24th July the OSS held a temporary River Lido at Port Eliot Festival, which came and went with the tide. Almost 500 people came, with Martin Parr snapping, Jarvis Cocker talking about it on the radio, and a flock of brightly coloured hats temporarily re... More >
On 24th July the OSS held a temporary River Lido at Port Eliot Festival, which came and went with the tide. Almost 500 people came, with Martin Parr snapping, Jarvis Cocker talking about it on the radio, and a flock of brightly coloured hats temporarily re... More >
A letter to Welsh MPs and Assembly members
Gain clearer inland access for water users in Wales. Want your natural right to swim outdoors in beautiful places to be legally enshrined in Wales? Then write to your MP or Welsh Assembly members. You can find your MP here: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk... More >
Gain clearer inland access for water users in Wales. Want your natural right to swim outdoors in beautiful places to be legally enshrined in Wales? Then write to your MP or Welsh Assembly members. You can find your MP here: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk... More >
Inland Access - help fight for better rights
THE SHORT VERSION We think you have a natural right to swim in inland waters. Fight for it! Write to your MP if you're in Wales, recruit more Welsh friends and more friends to OSS network generally if you're not, send map@outdoorswimmingsociety.com any We... More >
THE SHORT VERSION We think you have a natural right to swim in inland waters. Fight for it! Write to your MP if you're in Wales, recruit more Welsh friends and more friends to OSS network generally if you're not, send map@outdoorswimmingsociety.com any We... More >
For happiness, add air and water
You can swim the simple way - get in, get wet, get out, drink tea. Or you can engage in the mindfulness of swimming. Some thoughts on meditation and swimming from Kate Rew, written prior to the OSS Silent Swim in Oxford on 17th July 2010. &... More >
You can swim the simple way - get in, get wet, get out, drink tea. Or you can engage in the mindfulness of swimming. Some thoughts on meditation and swimming from Kate Rew, written prior to the OSS Silent Swim in Oxford on 17th July 2010. &... More >
The outdoor swim as art
Miles Doubleday, who attended the OSS Silent Swim - part swim, part meditation, part performance - writes on swimming as art. Silent Swim Kate Rew, 2010 summer Meet at a secret location. Put on your swimming costume or wetsuit. Wear a... More >
Miles Doubleday, who attended the OSS Silent Swim - part swim, part meditation, part performance - writes on swimming as art. Silent Swim Kate Rew, 2010 summer Meet at a secret location. Put on your swimming costume or wetsuit. Wear a... More >
What to eat when you swim
We all know swimming makes you hungry, but knowing what to eat and when can be tricky. Eat too much beforehand and you will feel lethargic and risk getting cramp, eat too little and you'll deprive your body of the energy it needs. On longer swi... More >
We all know swimming makes you hungry, but knowing what to eat and when can be tricky. Eat too much beforehand and you will feel lethargic and risk getting cramp, eat too little and you'll deprive your body of the energy it needs. On longer swi... More >
The global open water swimming conference
Outdoor swimming is exploding on a global scale, Colin Hill reports from the 2010 open water swimming global conference in Long Beach, California. Is the UK alone in experiencing a surge in outdoor swimming? Are there other swims similar t... More >
Outdoor swimming is exploding on a global scale, Colin Hill reports from the 2010 open water swimming global conference in Long Beach, California. Is the UK alone in experiencing a surge in outdoor swimming? Are there other swims similar t... More >
The Chippenham river festival
Wild swimming in the river Avon will form part of the Chippenham river festival on the weekend of the 28th-29th August 2010. Held in Monkton Park, this will be the second river festival following a successful event last year attended by an estimated... More >
Wild swimming in the river Avon will form part of the Chippenham river festival on the weekend of the 28th-29th August 2010. Held in Monkton Park, this will be the second river festival following a successful event last year attended by an estimated... More >
The truth about reservoir swimming
A great deal of confusion surrounds the issue of swimming in reservoirs. On the one hand, many reservoirs have watersports centres, and hold mass swims and triathlons. (This year Roadford Reservoir in Devon holds the One Mile Swim, Wimbleball in Some... More >
A great deal of confusion surrounds the issue of swimming in reservoirs. On the one hand, many reservoirs have watersports centres, and hold mass swims and triathlons. (This year Roadford Reservoir in Devon holds the One Mile Swim, Wimbleball in Some... More >
OSS Channel Relay team swimmers ready for the challenge
OSS regional rep Sarah Tunnicliffe on training so far... I have been getting bubbles of excitement in my stomach each time I think about our Channel Relay swim - which is very often, heck I even dream about swimming now! Over the last month the team, whi... More >
OSS regional rep Sarah Tunnicliffe on training so far... I have been getting bubbles of excitement in my stomach each time I think about our Channel Relay swim - which is very often, heck I even dream about swimming now! Over the last month the team, whi... More >
Swim the Thames this summer
Sir Walter Raleigh said 'There are two things scarce matched in the Universe - the sun in heaven and the Thames on earth.' There are few rivers in the world that can rival the Thames for a sense of place or history. While the river is perhaps most ... More >
Sir Walter Raleigh said 'There are two things scarce matched in the Universe - the sun in heaven and the Thames on earth.' There are few rivers in the world that can rival the Thames for a sense of place or history. While the river is perhaps most ... More >
Six Lessons about water survival
Jeremy Holt first became interested in outdoor swimming doing river and lake crossings in the Army 30 years ago. He now teaches water survival techniques on survival weekends for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Below, he outlines six key princip... More >
Jeremy Holt first became interested in outdoor swimming doing river and lake crossings in the Army 30 years ago. He now teaches water survival techniques on survival weekends for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Below, he outlines six key princip... More >
New plays premier celebrating Britain's lidos
This summer, a new series of plays based on Britain's lidos will be put on at lidos across the country. Listed Lido, created by the Listed Theatre company, is based on true stories surrounding the legacy of these stunning art-deco public pools and th... More >
This summer, a new series of plays based on Britain's lidos will be put on at lidos across the country. Listed Lido, created by the Listed Theatre company, is based on true stories surrounding the legacy of these stunning art-deco public pools and th... More >
Good news for lido campaigners
The growing popularity of lidos among the public has been evident in recent good news for lido campaigns across the UK. The Save Saltdean lido campaign recently announced that it would be working with Conran & Partners, the architectural practice of S... More >
The growing popularity of lidos among the public has been evident in recent good news for lido campaigns across the UK. The Save Saltdean lido campaign recently announced that it would be working with Conran & Partners, the architectural practice of S... More >
The Wales Swim
Wales is in hot competition with Scotland and Cumbria for having some of the best swimming in the country, and OSS members are cordially invited to a brand new event there on Friday 24th September, which will tie off a very busy summer season of swimming. ... More >
Wales is in hot competition with Scotland and Cumbria for having some of the best swimming in the country, and OSS members are cordially invited to a brand new event there on Friday 24th September, which will tie off a very busy summer season of swimming. ... More >
Cenotes, and other swimming epiphanies
Mexico's water-filled cenotes are superb swimming spots - but the beauty of outdoor swimming transcends any particular location, writes Kate Rew. There are no rivers on the Yucatán. The soft limestone ground swallows them whole. On a long, h... More >
Mexico's water-filled cenotes are superb swimming spots - but the beauty of outdoor swimming transcends any particular location, writes Kate Rew. There are no rivers on the Yucatán. The soft limestone ground swallows them whole. On a long, h... More >
Outdoor swimming around the world
The OSS map is a growing record of top swimming spots in the UK - but there are also many excellent locations for outdoor swimming beyond these shores. For some examples, see these recent articles in The Times and La Vie Cherie - which cover swimmin... More >
The OSS map is a growing record of top swimming spots in the UK - but there are also many excellent locations for outdoor swimming beyond these shores. For some examples, see these recent articles in The Times and La Vie Cherie - which cover swimmin... More >
Swimming the Gibraltar strait
OSS member Anna Wardley recently swam the Gibraltar Strait between Spain and Morocco as part 0f a series of swims to raise money for charity. She describes her experience below. I'm delighted to report that last Friday I successfully swam solo acros... More >
OSS member Anna Wardley recently swam the Gibraltar Strait between Spain and Morocco as part 0f a series of swims to raise money for charity. She describes her experience below. I'm delighted to report that last Friday I successfully swam solo acros... More >
Midsummer madness: OSS Thames social swim
Hannah Booth attended the recent OSS social swim at the Thames on 5th June. Here is Hannah's report of the swim, reproduced from her blog 'Lives less ordinary'. The last time I met a group of strangers in a layby it was 1989, the second Summe... More >
Hannah Booth attended the recent OSS social swim at the Thames on 5th June. Here is Hannah's report of the swim, reproduced from her blog 'Lives less ordinary'. The last time I met a group of strangers in a layby it was 1989, the second Summe... More >
Love your lakes: help reduce blue-green algae
Reducing the phosphates in your washing products makes a marked difference to water quality. Ruth Kirk from the Love Your Lakes campaign reports. Help us hold back the tide of phosphates washing into rivers and lakes and you will help us to keep them a be... More >
Reducing the phosphates in your washing products makes a marked difference to water quality. Ruth Kirk from the Love Your Lakes campaign reports. Help us hold back the tide of phosphates washing into rivers and lakes and you will help us to keep them a be... More >
Be part of a swimming film
Nicola Houghton is an OSS member based in Tooting, fundraising to make a short film she has written: a comedy called 'The Swimmer' based in a lido on the busiest day of summer. Want the chance to star in a film with Olympic Swimmer, Mark Foster? Then...d... More >
Nicola Houghton is an OSS member based in Tooting, fundraising to make a short film she has written: a comedy called 'The Swimmer' based in a lido on the busiest day of summer. Want the chance to star in a film with Olympic Swimmer, Mark Foster? Then...d... More >