Outdoor swimming groups are informal and voluntary, and depend upon the responsible behaviour of all their members. The groups rely on members to lead by example by being responsible in the choice and use they make of swim spots, and to support the local authorities and communities to keep places clean and safe.
Anyone who wants to join a swim group needs to be ready to take responsibility for themselves and do their own risk assessment before getting in – to swim within their own abilities.
This social and legal bedrock of social swim groups is enshrined in the OSS Swim Responsibility Statement. If we want to swim wild and free, without payment and lifeguards, then we have a responsibility to ourselves, (and our families, swimming groups, landowners and more) to take care of ourselves as we do so, and to swim within our abilities.
Not all the groups listed here will be accepting new members at present, though they hope to open their doors again soon.
The OSS is not responsible for the outdoor swimming groups listed on this page. It is in the best interests of all swim group members to report any concerns they have about the behaviour of a swimmer within their group to the local police and to the swim group administrators.
Location – Shore Road, Poole, Dorset
Contact – Sally Bird/Lisa Aqua Nut
Swim Times – Regular plus ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Beyond the Blue
Location – Bath and surrounding areas
Contact – Hollie Dinwoodie/Sus Davy
Swim Times – Regular plus ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Bath Openwater Beauts
Location – Cornwall (Loe Beach, Helford River, Gylly Beach)
Contact – Ross Jackson-Hicks / Tom Mason
Swim Times – Regular plus ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Blue Balls Cornwall
BOWS
Location – Bude Sea Pool, Summerleaze Beach, Bude, Cornwall
Contact – bowsbude@btinternet.com
Swim Times – Social swims and meet-ups all year, including Christmas and New Year
Social Media – BOWS
Clevedon Marine Lake. Photo: Mark Davidson
Location – Clevedon Marine Lake and Pier
Swim Times – Regular plus ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Clevedon Lake and Sea Swimmers
Location – Cornwall
Contact – Pauline Barker
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Cornwall Wild Swimming
Location – Cornwall
Contact – Sharky Siân
Swim times – All year, all abilities
Social media – Cornwall OWLS
Location – Devon
Contact – Pauline Barker
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Devon Wild Swimming
Location – Dorset
Contact – Marcela Hass, Melanie Scanlan, Sian Shaw, June Billington and Margaret Peet
Swim Times – Tuesday 5.30pm BST, Friday 12.30pm and Saturday 10am
Social Media – Jurassic Area Wild Swimmers
Location – East Devon
Contact – Lesley Chapman
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – TEDs
Location – French Weir Park, Taunton (by the COACH building)
Contact – Sian Kelly/Sue Shelbourne/Joanne Robertson
Swim Times – Thursday evenings 5.30pm
Social Media – The Bathing Station
Location – Various near Taunton
Contact – Katie Baker and Michael Shattock
Swim Times – See Facebook
Social Media – TOWS
(Ruth Haynes)
Location – Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Wild Swimming – West Country Somerset Dorset
Location – Teignmouth, Dawlish, Shaldon, Torquay, Dartmoor, Totnes
Contact – Ruth Smyth-Bonfield
Swim Times – See Facebook
Social Media – Wild Swimming Teignbridge
Wiltshire Wild Swim
Location – Bradford-on-Avon, Farleigh Hungerford, Tellisford, Avoncliff
Contact – Kristy Field/Sarah Webb
Swim Times – Every Sunday 8am and ad hoc swim through the week
Social Media – @wiltshirewildswim and Wiltshire Wild Swim
Location – Beckenham Place Park Lake
Contact – Rachel Molina
Swim Times – Sunday 9am
Social Media – Beckenham Bobbers
Location – Southend on Sea (Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay)
Contact – Sarah-Jane Coombes and Del Christie
Swim Times – Fridays + Weekends
Social Media – Blue Therapy Swim
Location – Dedham
Contact – Kevin Sheath
Swim Times – Regular swims Sunday morning at 9am, and any other time (see Facebook)
Social Media – Dedham River Swimmers
Location – Marine parade Dover harbour, swimmers beach
Contact – Charlotte Byrom
Swim Times – see Facebook
Social Media – Dover Darlings
(Holly Manktelow)
Location – Beach opposite the Langham Hotel in Eastbourne
Contact – Chris Brooks/Holly Manktelow/Colin Tallowin
Swim Times – Every Saturday and Sunday, full moon swims and ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Eastbourne Sea Swimmers
Location – Frensham Great Pond, Surrey
Contact – Simon Kay
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebbook
Social Media – F.A.R.T
Location – Folkstone, Kent
Contact – Vivian Walters
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Folkestone Sea Swimmers
Location – Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
Contact – Colette de Boer
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Frinton-on-Sea Swimmers
Location – Hertfordshire
Contact – @HertsSwimBuddies on Instagram or Facebook
Swim Times – Hertford every Saturday 9:30am, plus mid week swims across the county
Social Media – Herts Swim Buddies
Location – Hertfordshire
Contact – Alexandra Yates
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – HOWLS
Location – Withymead river Itchen and various areas around Hampshire
Contact – Rachel Jones
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – HOWS
Location – Various locations between Henley & Marlow
Contact – Andy Lane/Mark Plested/Jeni Orme
Swim Times – Saturday 7.30am, ad hoc swims during the week
Social Media – Email: HOWSCopenwaterclubs@gmail.com
Location – Hythe, Kent
Contact – Marc Steeple
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media – Hythe Sea Swimmers
Location – Various locations along the Kent coast including: Tankerton, Herne Bay, Botany Bay, Folkestone and Hythe
Contact – Anthony Levings
Swim times – Sunday morning around 11am, depending on tides
Social Media – Facebook: Kent Sea Swimmers, Twitter: @kentseaswimmers
Location – Littlehampton beach
Contact – Tim Baylis
Swim times – Sunday, weather permitting
Social Media – Facebook: Littlehampton Sea Swimmers
(Jeremy Wellingham)
Location – Oxford/Reading/locations around the Thames
Contact – Jeremy Wellingham
Swim Times – See Facebook
Social Media – OSS Thames Group
Location – Jubilee river, Marsh Lane, Taplow
Swim Times – Sundays 8.30am and ad hoc
Social Media – OSS Windsor and Maidenhead
Location – Various locations, IOW
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Contact – Sandy
Social Media – Outdoor Swimmers Isle of Wight
Location – Brighton
Contact – Cath or Kath, info@seabirdsltd.com
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Salty Seabirds
Shoreham swim group
Location – Shoreham-by-Sea
Contact – Julie Meriwoode
Swim Times – Mainly 8 am, sometimes earlier. Ad hoc in the summer
Social Media – Closed Facebook group, changes to swims via WhatsApp
Location – Hayling Island, Eastney, Southsea, Chichester Harbour areas inc Langstone, Emsworth, Prinsted and Bosham, and further east and west along the south coast.
Contact – Ali Couch
Swim Times – Monday 6pm BST, Thursday 8.30am and Saturday 9.30am, Hayling Island, and ad hoc swims elsewhere
Social Media – SOS and @solentoutdoorswimmers
Location – Hampstead Ponds and Lido
Contact – Leo Krikhaar
Swim Times – See Instagram
Social Media – @stonecoldswimmers
Location – The Old Bathing Place Warwick Road, Stratford Upon Avon
Contact – Jane Hitchman
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media –Stratford Upon Avon Open Water Swimmers
Location – Weston Super Mare (main beach, royal sands and Uphill)
Contact – Anna Southwell
Swim Times – Various days, 30-45 minutes either side of high tide, see Facebook
Social Media – Supermares! Sea Swimmers and Dippers
(Jess Smith)
Location – Surrey
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Surrey Outdoor Swimming
Swim Walks
Location – London
Contact – Philip Nice
Swim Times – See Facebook
Social Media – Swim Walks
Location – Hertfordshire
Contact – Sarah Poll
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – The flOUSEie
Location – Central Beds / North Herts
Contact – Keeley Sparrow
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – The Hicca Dippers
Location – The Shack, Hillhead, Lee-on-the-Solent
Contact – Sadie Bedford
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – The Shack Sharks
Location – Black Lion Steps, Hammersmith
Contact – Oliver Waugh
Swim Times – See Facebook
Social Media – Tidal Thames Swims
Wadhurst Blue Tits
Location – Bexhill, East Sussex
Contact – Becki Read
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Bexhill Seagals
(Kathy Stevenson)
Location – Thames at Basildon near Reading, Pangbourne and Newbury
Swim Times – See Facebook
Social Media – West Berkshire Open Water Swimmers
Location – Norfolk and Norwich
Contact – Sue Anderson
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Norfolk and Norwich Wild Swimmers
(Emma Cleere)
Location – Sea Palling. Norfolk. Underneath the lifeguard hut.
Swim Times – Various, generally Monday evenings in summer months and 8am Sunday mornings all year round
Social Media – Norfolk and Suffolk Open Water Swimmers
Imogen Radford
Location – Breckland, Norfolk/Suffolk border (towns in the area are Thetford and Brandon). Swim places are in the rivers Little Ouse, Wissey and Lark, and other waters in the area
Contact – Imogen Radford
Swim times – No set times, see Facebook
Social media – Outdoor Swimming in Breckland
Location – Tamworth, Staffordshire
Contact – Caroline Esme Saxon
Swim Times – Saturday morning winter swimming, see Facebook
Social Media – Cliff Lakes
Location – West Midlands
Contact – Martin Hannon
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Gravy Seals
Location – Tattersall, Stamford, Muskham, Milton Ferry Bridge
Contact – Shayne Taylor, Vicki Watson
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – LOST
Location – Midlands
Contact – Sarah Scholes, Frank Scholes
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Midland Inland Swimmers
Location – Northamptonshire
Contact – Michelle Mason-Walker/Rachel Parker
Swim Times – weekly meets, sunrise/sunset and night swims
Social Media – NASA
(Lindsay Riley)
Location – Nottingham/Derby
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Nottingham/Derby OW Swimmers
Location – Staffordshire
Contact – Emma Jones / Simon Bushell / Emma Dyster / Susan Brown
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Staffordshire Swooshers
Location – Midlands swims and Tonic Days out, Dosthill, River Avon, Lidos.
Contact – Mel Smith
Swim Times – See Facebook
Social Media – Swim and Tonic
Location – Worcestershire
Contact – Anna Brook
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Worcestershire Wallowers
(Lesley Hargrave)
Location – Various around Leeds area
Swim Times – Ad hoc and varied, see Facebook
Social Media – FLOWS
Location – North Beach, Hornsea, East Riding
Contact – Kate Spencer-Payne
Swim times – Whenever tides, waves and weather are ok
Social Media – hornseadolphins
www.hornseadolphins.co.uk
(John Jordan)
Location – Penistone and Holmfirth
Swim Times – Ad hoc and varied, see Facebook
Social Media – KAPOWS
Location – Kingston upon Hull
Swim Times – Ad hoc and varied, see Facebook
Social Media – Kingston Cold Swimmers
(Owen Haeman)
Location – Various around broader Sheffield area and the Peak District. Crookes Valley Park
Contact – Owen Hayman/Haeman
Swim Times – Swims at Crookes Valley Park most weekday mornings and lunchtimes throughout the year, see Facebook
Social Media – SOUP
Location – Yorkshire Dales National Park
Contact – Les Peebles
Swim Time – Ad hoc
Social Media – The Dales Dippers – Wild Swimming
Location – Rivers around York
Contact – John W Mace
Swim Time – Ad hoc
Social Media – York Swimmers
(Leslie Emilie Tuck)
Location – Yorkshire Dales
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Wild Swimming in the Yorkshire Dales
(Dianne Parrish)
Location – River Dee Chester, Hatchmere, Hanmer Mere, North Wales Mountain and Coast
Contact – Dianne Parrish
Swim Times – Ad hoc and varied, see Facebook
Social Media – #ChesterFrosties
Location – Cumbria
Contact – Lottie Thompson
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Cumbrian Bluetits
Location – Cumbria
Contact – Graeme Sutton
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Cumbria Open Water Swimmers
Location – Formby
Contact – Peter Heron
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Formby Sea Swimmers
(Steve Ashworth)
Location – Various in the Lake District
Contact – Andrea Kelly and Pete Kelly
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media – Lake District Open Water Swimmers
M.A.L.L.O.W.S
Location – River Lune, Morecambe Bay, Capernwray Quarry
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media – M.A.L.L.O.W.S
Location – Windermere
Contact – Heather Meek
Swim Times – Ad Hoc
Social media – SLOWS
Location – Various locations
Contact – Ned Spencer
Swim Times – Ad Hoc
Social Media – Wilmslow Open Water Swimming
(Jane Hardy)
Location – Various places in Northumberland between Amble and Bamburgh
Contact – Jane Hardy
Swim Times – Various, see Facebook
Social Media – Alnwick Sea Swimmers
Location – Various locations in the North East, mainly Blyth Beach in Northumberland
Swim Times – Various
Social Media – BADASS
Location – Cullercoats Beach, near Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
Contact – Natalie Thorburn
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – COWS
Location – Fausto Coffee, Roker Beach, Sunderland
Swim Times – Sunday 9.30am, Thursday 6.30pm, plus other sessions as arranged by members
Social Media – Fausto Bathing Club
Location – Various locations in North East England including Ellerton Lake, Bishopton Lake, The River Tees and the North Sea
Swim Times – Various
Social Media – NEOWS
Location –North East England, mainly between Tynemouth and Hartlepool
Contact – Suzanne Green
Swim Times – ad hoc, on request, mentoring, buddy ups and group swims
Social Media – North Sea Mermaids
Location – South Shields, Tyne & Wear
Contact – Kate Bull / Sarah Thorell
Swim Times – Saturday at 9am / Wednesday at 6.30pm
Social Media – South Shields Sea Swimmers
Location – North Tyneside coast from Blyth through Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and down to Tynemouth
Contact – TBC
Swim Times – Saturday 8am, Sunday around 8am (less reliable). Meet on ramp opp Grand Hotel, Tynemouth (NE30 4ER), South end of Longsands (nr Crusoe’s and old outdoor pool).
Social Media – Tynemouth Outdoor Swimmers
Location – Portobello Beach (by the Epsy pub), three miles east of Edinburgh
Contact – Olivia Sharron
Swim Time – Various, see Instagram
Social Media – @chilly.dippers
(AE O'Donnell)
Location – Various around Edinburgh, including Portobello beach
Swim Times –Various, see Facebook
Social Media – Wild Ones Edinburgh
Location – Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
Contact – Mel Lee
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Gullane Guillemots
Location – Scottish Borders, mostly Cauldshiels Loch (pictured), Lindean Loch, Gladhouse reservoir and the River Tweed.
Contact person – Katherine Paul, Wendy Noble, Angela Lauder
Swim times – No set days/times, all year around (see Facebook)
Social media links – Wild Swimming Borders
(Liz Stevens)
Location – Pier Road, Killin
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Loch Tay Open Water Swimmers
Location – Scottish Lochs around Glasgow and beyond
Contact – Beatrice Vetter-Ceriotti
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Instagram
Social Media – Neoprene Queens
Location – Glasgow and the surrounding areas: Loch Lomond and many of the lochs in the Trossachs area
Contact – Gillian Lester
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Wild West Swimmers
Rebecca Campbell Wilson
Location – Anywhere and everywhere on the Banffshire Coast
Contact – Rebecca Campbell Wilson
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Banffshire Coast Swimmers
(Alice Goodridge)
Location – Various in Cairngorm National Park, Loch Morlich (beach end)
Contact – Alice Goodridge
Social Media – Cairngorm Wild Swimmers
Location – Various
Contact – Colin S Macleod
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media – Hebridean Sea Swimmers
(Katie Small)
Location – Isle of Glencoe Hotel Car Park
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Loch Leven Open Water Swimmers
Location – Lochaber, Scottish Highlands
Contact – Anja Baak
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Lochaber Loons
Stacey Holloway
Location – Oban, Scotland
Contact – Stacey Holloway
Swim Times – Saturdays 8.45am, before park run at Ganavan Sands (same car park as Parkrun), some swim after the Parkrun
Social Media – Oban Seals
(Anne Gascoigne)
Location – Various
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media – Orkney Polar Bears
(Ryan Leith)
Location – Various
Contact – Ryan Leith
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Selkies
Location – Isle of Skye
Contact – Gill Williams
Swim Times – 10am Sunday mornings
Social Media – Skye Wild Swimmers
Location – Isle of Tiree, Crossapol Bay by the old garage
Contact – Louise Reid, Louise@tireetrust.org.uk
Swim Times – Saturday 9.30am, ad hoc and on request
Social Media – Tiree Polar Bears
Location – Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
Contact – Keri Hutchinson
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Barrybados Bathers
(John Piggott)
Location – All across south Wales, coastal and inland.
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – South Wales Outdoor Swimming
Trefriw Drips
Location – Trefriw, Conwy Valley
Contact – Deb Carter
Swim times – Every Sunday 9am Llyn Geirionydd (meet at car park near Southern end of lake) and see Facebook other meeting times and locations
Social Media – Trefriw Drips
Location – South Snowdonia with a base in Harlech, swim all over Snowdonia
Contact – Meg Pugh/Laura Sanderson, email wildswimsnowdonia@gmail.com
Swim Times –Weekends and various, see Instagram
Social Media – @wildswimsnowdonia
Location – Various along the River Wye
Contact – Hayley Frapwell
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media – Wye Not Swim?
Location – North Wales coast & lakes
Contact – Claire Mitchell or Nicky Dixon
Swim Times – Ad hoc
Social Media – Wild Water Babes
Location – Portrush
Contact – Stephen McConnell
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Arcadia Bathing Club
Location – Brompton Old Harbour (aka Jenny Watts’ Cove), Bangor, County Down
Contact – Marie-Therese Davis-Hanson/Stephen Hanson
Swim Times – Weekdays 6.45am and weekends various times, see Facebook
Social Media – SeaSwimsBangor2017
Location – Carlingford, Republic of Ireland
Contact – Harry G Jordan
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Carlingford Swimmers
(Martin Strain)
Location – Donaghadee
Swim Times – ‘Skins’ only group, see Facebook
Social Media – Chunky Dunkers
Location – Waterfoot, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Contact – Tarrin-Rae Graham
Swim Times – 12 noon, daily
Social Media – Glenariff’s Little Dippers
Location – Helen’s Bay beach, Crawfordsburn Country Park
Contact – Alicia Peyrano
Swim Times – 10.30am Sunday mornings (all weathers)
Social Media – Helen’s Baywatch
Location – Bangor, County Down
Contact – Scott Riley
Swim Times – Ad hoc, see Facebook
Social Media – Team Dash & Splash
Mental Health Swims is an award-winning, mental health peer support community which hosts free, safe and inclusive swim meet ups nationwide.
A social enterprise with a network of local affiliated groups. Search its website to find a group near you.
Location – National
Contact – Stuart Hamilton
Swim Times – Varies, see Facebook
Website – www.slowswimming.org
Social Media – Slow Swimming
Location – UK-wide
Contact – Kate Walsh
Social Media – UK Skinny Dippers!
This is not a complete list of every swim group, just those who have contacted us.
For more information about outdoor swimming groups, or to add, edit or remove your group, contact swimgroups@outdoorswimmingsociety.com
In order to add your group, we need to know: