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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 >
Wet and Dry: new photo exhibition at London Fields lido
Photographer Madeleine Waller's exhibition of lido swimmer photos is currently showing at London Fields lido. The photos capture the swimmer's transformation from normal clothes into their swimsuits, and runs until 12 July. "I'm always struck by h... More >
Photographer Madeleine Waller's exhibition of lido swimmer photos is currently showing at London Fields lido. The photos capture the swimmer's transformation from normal clothes into their swimsuits, and runs until 12 July. "I'm always struck by h... More >
Join The Blue Mile - £5 off
Plymouth has a fantastic sea swimming heritage, and participants in The Blue Mile, a mass participation event on 3rd and 4th July, will be able to see most of it as they swim along from the Barbican to West Hoe, past the lido, the old diving towers, and... More >
Plymouth has a fantastic sea swimming heritage, and participants in The Blue Mile, a mass participation event on 3rd and 4th July, will be able to see most of it as they swim along from the Barbican to West Hoe, past the lido, the old diving towers, and... More >
New OSS hoodies in stock
We have a new range of OSS hoodies in stock in the OSS shop. Featuring a vintage logo, these garments effortlessly combine style and practicality to make their wearer the envy of the riverbank. Available in pink, green, black and womens and mens fit... More >
We have a new range of OSS hoodies in stock in the OSS shop. Featuring a vintage logo, these garments effortlessly combine style and practicality to make their wearer the envy of the riverbank. Available in pink, green, black and womens and mens fit... More >
10% off Toast swimwear
Thanks to all our 22 volunteers who made the OSS Wild Swim at Derwent Island a fortnight ago happen. We had a brilliant event with over 300 swimmers joining our swim clinics and mass swim. Toast is generously giving our volunteers of the month, Jo Da... More >
Thanks to all our 22 volunteers who made the OSS Wild Swim at Derwent Island a fortnight ago happen. We had a brilliant event with over 300 swimmers joining our swim clinics and mass swim. Toast is generously giving our volunteers of the month, Jo Da... More >
Find us on Flickr!
The Outdoor Swimming Society is now active on Flickr with its spanking new Flickr group, and we want you to help make it grow. The new group is a place to upload, store and share your images of outdoor swimming and see images of other members' favourite s... More >
The Outdoor Swimming Society is now active on Flickr with its spanking new Flickr group, and we want you to help make it grow. The new group is a place to upload, store and share your images of outdoor swimming and see images of other members' favourite s... More >
'My prescription for happiness': OSS 2010 survey results
Outdoor swimming is good for you! The results of the first OSS members' survey are in and it's official - swimming outdoors makes 83% of swimmers feel happier, less stressed and more energetic. A staggering 21% (1,574) of you answered a short questi... More >
Outdoor swimming is good for you! The results of the first OSS members' survey are in and it's official - swimming outdoors makes 83% of swimmers feel happier, less stressed and more energetic. A staggering 21% (1,574) of you answered a short questi... More >
Lewis Gordon Pugh completes first swim on Mount Everest
British endurance swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh has become the first man to swim across a glacial lake on Mount Everest. The environmental campaigner, dubbed the 'human polar bear', swam 1 km across Lake Pumori in icy two degree water to draw attention to gla... More >
British endurance swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh has become the first man to swim across a glacial lake on Mount Everest. The environmental campaigner, dubbed the 'human polar bear', swam 1 km across Lake Pumori in icy two degree water to draw attention to gla... More >