More swimmers than ever before came together during Kinder Unbound in April 2025 to demand free access to swim in open waters.
Since then, new swimming communities have sprung to life across England and Wales. Somerset now boasts Chew Valley Swimmers, alongside others in North London and Hertfordshire, the Midlands, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and more.
Looking back at the protests, the Right to Swim Team bring together highlights from a weekend of action.
Chew Valley Lake, Somserset
“This was the second year that Johnny Palmer and I put out the idea of swimming at Chew Valley Lake for Kinder Unbound, and this year was huge! Alpkit bussed in Bristol swimmers from their local store. Bristol Right To Roam helped spread the word, along with lots of local swim groups. Over 100 swimmers came. Johnny even wheeled up a horsebox sauna. The sun was out. Swimmers came with their children towed behind in buggies. Bristol Water sent representatives – we all had a chat and shook hands. There was even a friendly exchange with a passing policeman in a squad car. Our intention was to help seed a local swim group Somerset is desperately short of viable swim spots, which affects everyone from young children upwards. And we did! Following the swim, a new group launched, called Swim Chew Valley.” – Kate
“Swimming outdoors is booming in England and Wales. But there’s not nearly enough swimfrastructure to meet that demand. Swimming outside should be as easy as going for a walk. When water was privatised in the UK, water companies agreed that the public would be able to access these bodies of water for recreation. The answer? We know the benefits of outdoor swimming on our minds and bodies. We know too many of our rivers and seas are polluted, and we know we’re underserved in England and Wales. Open up reservoirs for swimming. Pair this with education and dedicated areas to swim away from potential hazards. It’s been done in Scotland and Scandinavia. Why not here?” – Rebecca.
Chew Valley Lake
Chew Valley Lake
Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire
“Almost 100 swimmers joined together at Staunton Harold Reservoir in South Derbyshire to show a united front against the lack of access to water, attracting the attention of many people keen to learn more about why we were there, including BBC reporters! We had an incredible morning and it was fantastic to be surrounded by likeminded people.” – Laurie
Staunton Harold Reservoir
Swinsty Reservoir, Yorkshire
“The local swimming community gathered for a local protest attended by over 60 swimmers from all over Yorkshire and beyond. We all want to ensure that we have the right to swim in the water we own. The massive profits of water companies are a disgrace, but they manage to allow usage for the people that pay and that they can police. This must change. The water is a shared resource and does not belong to anyone.” – Yorkshire swimmer
“Recognising the historic events at Kinder and the current impact of poor access, it’s great to build awareness of safe swimming and see the collective will for a right to roam. We are lucky that locally we have rivers and ponds for swimming in nature. Yet we aren’t allowed to swim in our reservoirs. Our reservoirs are local, beautiful and perfect for safe swimming. They provide more opportunities for us to swim and enjoy our natural world.” – Yorkshire swimmer
Swinsty Reservoir, Diane Murrell
Lucy Swim Outdoors
Swinsty Reservoir, Diane Murrell
Edgbaston Reservoir, Birmingham
Edgbaston Reservoir is already a popular blue space for many in central Birmingham with excellent transport links. Sailing, rowing and fishing are all allowed.
“Almost 50 swimmers came together at Edgbaston Reservoir Trespass Swim to share the joy of swimming right in the city centre on a sunny day. This should not just be permitted but encouraged. #ReservOURS” – Birmingham swimmer
Edgbaston Reservoir
Edgbaston Reservoir
High Maynard Reservoir, Walthamstow Wetlands, E17
“Despite heeding the advice of the London Wildlife Trust to ensure the safety of nesting birds, we were sadly confronted with tall tales and an unpleasant manner from a representative of Thames Water: from being informed that there was a missing person, that they were closing the whole site and that there was police presence due to the incident (worrying for all of us, until clearly untrue), to misinformation about the waterworks designed to make us worry for our safety and general access to the site. This didn’t stop us from enjoying our dip, at least until we were accompanied (hastened) off the Wetlands site by a (more friendly) security guard. We were small in number but giant in spirit. Here’s to the next one!” – E17 swimmers
Walthamstow Wetlands
Walthamstow Wetlands
Fernilee Reservoir, Derbyshire
“United Utilities ‘owns’ this reservoir and bans swimming. Given the pollution and greed, this ban is obscene. We came together as 25 swimming souls to celebrate our commitment to nature and the local community.” – Lisa
Fernilee Reservoir
Bawsey Brickyard Lake, West Norfolk
“Swimmers meet here at least once every month. On 20 April, we swam in support of the Right to Swim. There were 10 swimmers, the water was 14.1°, with glorious sunshine showing off the lake at its best. This was a special Right to Swim visit, but it was also just an ordinary coming together to enjoy a swim, which is what we really want: to be able to swim with friends or family or without, and to do so without feeling we might be challenged or made uncomfortable. It’s beginning to feel like this is possible. The lakes are in a public country park close to a large town in an area with few inland swim places, so there’s a real need for open and welcoming access.” – Norfolk swimmer
Bawsey Brickyard Lake
Bottoms Reservoir
Bottoms Reservoir, Derbyshire
“I’ve spent so many years walking past these reservoirs believing they were too dangerous to swim in due to the misleading signs about the water temperature ‘rarely getting above freezing’. Now I know that’s not true: it was 18°C when we went in! These reservoirs are a valuable community resource which should allow people to enjoy the outdoors for free.” – Liz
Earlswood Lakes, West Midlands
“These three reservoirs are owned and maintained by the Canal and River Trust. There are popular footpaths around the lakes. A sailing club uses one of the lakes. Fishing is permitted on all of them. But swimming is banned. It’s the usual claims: cold water, deep water and hidden hazards. Since 2024, we’ve been swimming here in small numbers. We have yet to find any machinery in the lake. We keep well away from the area where this lake feeds water into the next one. We are also careful to stay away from the islands with nesting birds.” – West Midlands swimmer
Earlswood Lakes
Elan Valley, Wales
“In the spirit of the Kinder Trespass, members of our small group got together to support the cause. Elan Valley’s official website demonstrates the irony of the current situation: ‘The dams are undoubtedly the biggest draw to Elan Valley, offering a wonderful year-round backdrop for cyclists, walkers, and photographers.’ Yet swimming is banned. Why?”
“With water levels low at the dam, we took the opportunity to examine the vast extent of the bed for underwater obstructions or dangerous hidden machinery: we saw none, other than small rocky mounds far below the usual water level. If Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water carried out this type of survey, they could offer useful, accurate safety advice rather than issue blanket bans on swimming, backed up by vague scaremongering statements about ‘hidden dangers lurking’.” – Elan Valley swimmer
Jubilee River, Buckinghamshire
“Swimmers joined together at their regular swim spot on the Jubilee River near Maidenhead to add their voices to the growing call for the right to swim. We want to show what a wonderful place this is to swim: a calm, flood-relief channel with no boat traffic. Despite this, swimming is not officially allowed.” – Buckinghamshire swimmer
Jubilee River
Glen Faba, Hertforshire
“We swam at Glen Faba in the Lea Valley to add our voices to the growing call for the right to swim. Glen Faba is a glorious lake on the edge of London where swimming is not permitted. We now have a group of swimmers who swim regularly at various spots in the Lea Valley.” – Sylvia
Rutland Water
Rutland Reservoir, Rutland
“Rutland Reservoir is perfect for swimming, with a safe, shallow entry point and wonderfully clear water. We swam to encourage more people to do so. Some people are already starting to swim here, despite Anglian Water’s prohibition on the grounds that it is ‘dangerous’. There is a free public swim place on the reservoir, which is very welcome, but the opening times and depth are restricted. The lake also has organised swim venues and events, but these are exclusive to the people that are able to pay and swim at the limited times. The water should be open to all.” – Rutland swimmer
Waterswallows Quarry, Derbyshire
“Waterswallows Quarry is already a popular swimming spot with fantastically deep and clear water. There is a safe entry point away from the cliffs. The water was cold but nothing to worry about. There were some paddleboarders and groups of young people on the shores and cliffs, adding to the lively atmosphere. No one challenged us here, but it would be much better to have a clear right to swim.” – Derbyshire swimmer
Where it all began: Kinder Reservoir, Derbyshire
The fifth annual iconic Kinder Swim Trespass attracted over 400 swimmers to Kinder Reservoir on Sunday 27 April. Right To Roam joined our mission, bringing new friends and enthusiasm. Swimmers poured into the reservoir with a road of joy and determination. Hot from the walk, some jumped in early; others arrived later. For the first time, two hi-vis-jacketed men appeared on the far bank, urging us to get out. We waved back, inviting them to get in.
Sunday’s swim concluded a powerful weekend festival, Kinder Rising, to commemorate the original Kinder Mass Trespass in 1932. Over 90 years ago, that protest began the fight for access to land in Britain. Today’s swimmers continue the struggle, demanding the same rights to water. Workshops, panel discussions, music, theatre and exhibitions, including work by local schoolchildren, filled the village of Hayfield, building a sense of community and determination ahead of the swim.
Kinder is where this new wave began and where its spirit still runs strongest.
Kinder Scout
Kinder Reservoir
Kinder Reservoir
Not everyone was able to take part in a trespass swim, but many still wanted to express their support for the Right to Swim movement.
Settle, North Yorkshire
“I sadly wasn’t able to join any of the swim protests. Instead, I enjoyed a ‘solidarity swim’ at one of my regular swim spots, the Eel Pool on the River Ribble.” – Stuart
Windermere, Lake District
“Inspired by the 1932 Kinder Trespass, we joined hikers, nature lovers and swimmers across England and Wales with a protest at our local swim spot in Lake Windermere. We are lucky to have access to the lake all year round, but many swimmers across England and Wales don’t. So let’s enter the water together and fight for the right to swim.” – Lake District swimmer
River Nene, Northamptonshire
“The Newts are a group of mild-mannered, law-abiding ladies. Protesting is not something to which we are commonly given, but this cause has brought us out in force. I’m grateful for the opportunity to take part in this wonderful event. Our outdoor swimming community is full of the very best people and I am so proud to have been able to play my part.” – Heather