The Joy of Cold Water Swimming

Lake Windermere - who wouldn’t want this scenery when swimming?

This article is nothing to do with business or work. It's about life, joy, and feeling good.

This summer, I've been as giddy as a fourteen-year-old girl having her first boy crush. Every waking moment is consumed with wonder over when I can see my new love again.

It's not a man (or woman). But a lake. The cold water of Lake Windermere in the English Lake District compels me to set my alarm clock at 5.15 am, several mornings a week just so I can be the first to arrive at the lakeshore in time to see the sun coming up over the mirror-like water. In the distance, I can see the magnificent view of the Langdale fells and there are small, pretty sailing boats bobbing about at their moorings.

Before I take the plunge I pour myself a small cup of Earl Grey tea that I have in a flask and sip it while I mentally rehearse my immersion into the water. Then I remove my outer garments, blow up my fluorescent pink safety float, clip it onto my bathing suit and step into the water.

No other exercise has ever given me the endorphin rush that I get from plunging myself in a freezing cold lake at ‘silly o'clock in the morning

I go in slowly. Up to my knees at first, then pause for a few seconds to get used to the temperature. The next stage is up to the waist. Then the final stage is when I put my shoulders under the water and feel the first catch of my breath as the cold water surrounds me. Once I take my first few strokes, the endorphin wave hits me. I’m exhilarated by the water, my surroundings, and yes, the cold. I feel so alive.

Over the years I’ve tried every kind of exercise you can think of. Running, spinning, weights, Zumba, pilates, yoga - the list is endless. I still do some of those things, but none of them has ever given me the endorphin rush that I get from plunging myself in a freezing cold lake at ‘silly o'clock in the morning.

A 94% increase in wild swimming since the pandemic started

I’ve lived in the Lake District for many years. My husband and I love hiking in the beautiful fells generally enjoying the scenery and tranquillity of the area. But it’s only this year that I’ve ventured into Windermere as a swimmer. More people have been taking to the region’s 13,000-year-old lakes to swim. It’s not just the Lake District, across the UK more people have started wild swimming in lakes, rivers and lochs. According to Outdoor Swimmer magazine’s February 2021 report, the interest in cold, open water swimming has exploded in the past couple of years, seeing a 94% increase between 2019 and 2020.

The pandemic has probably been a catalyst for this. Certainly, in my own case, I may never have found lake swimming if I hadn’t become bored with exercise classes via Zoom. I felt the strong urge to break my usual routine and try something new, and it seems that this feeling is shared by many others. In addition, we’ve had two very pleasant summers in a row. Which for those of you who are regular visitors to the Lake District will know, that’s not always the case. The region is renewed for its rainfall.

Effective treatment for depression?

It seems that cold water swimming may be a natural treatment for depression. A case study published by the British Medical Journal suggests that cold water swimming could be beneficial to both physical and mental well-being, particularly for those suffering from depression. Apparently, the shock of cold water as a stressor, helps the body adapt more quickly to other stressors, such as responding to depression or anxiety. Personally, I’ve certainly felt a boost to my mood, energy levels and concentration.

Is it safe to do it alone?

This is a big question that people often ask me. Firstly, I didn’t start on my own. I booked a couple of sessions with a personal fitness trainer who has been a Windermere swimmer all her life. She took me to some safe spots and coached me through the correct way to approach cold water swimming. Lake swimming feels different to swimming in a chlorinated pool. It seems more buoyant somehow and you have to work harder to keep your feet under the water. But that’s probably from wearing swimming shoes. The point is, it takes a bit of getting used to.

There are lots of fabulous women in the Lake District who swim together in the lakes and rivers, and I love going along with some of them from time to time. It’s great fun. Also, I go to a regular yoga class on a Wednesday evening which is located just by the lake, and during the very hot spell this summer, some of us would all strip down to our bra and knickers and have a dunk in the lake at the end of the class. A sight to behold.

So, on going solo, I only go where I know it’s safe. I like to be there first, but soon after I’m in the water, other early morning swimmers start to appear. We all wave and have conversations like we know each other, share information about the swimming places and where to get the good kit and so on.

At the time of writing this, it’s early September. The next big question is, will I still be dunking myself into the lake in the early morning during the winter? I’d like to think that I’ll try to keep going during the colder months. I may have to get a wetsuit (which I don't have the figure for) and naturally, not at 6 am in the dark.

All I will say is that I’m so happy to have found cold water swimming. I always thought it was for superfit triathletes, not for middle-aged women like me. Even if I’m not hardy enough for the coldest winter days, I’ll certainly be back at the lakeshore in the early mornings in the spring.

If you’re looking for something new to try, I’d heartily recommend a dunk in some cold lake or river. It will make you feel amazing.