Make a splash in North Yorkshire
Water you waiting for
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- Wild Swimming Chill
Wild Swimming Chill
Wild swimming has become increasingly popular over the last few years as a way to find some peace and boost wellness. In North Yorkshire there are some great spots to head to and dip your toes into water mindfulness.
Woodland Serenity
The Swinton Estate near Masham has a secluded woodland lake with a purpose-built swimming platform which is open to the public, simply buy a parkland and gardens pass or if you are staying at the hotel or at Swinton Bivouac or using the Swinton Country Club and Spa then you can include wild swimming with your visit.
Depending on the time of year, you can have an early morning swim at sunrise or an evening swim at sunset, a perfect way to either start or finish your day.
Lake swimming near the sea
More open water swimming can be found at the North Yorkshire Waterpark near Scarborough with a 250-metre circuit in their large natural watersport lake.
Sessions run at the weekends and during school holidays and the water temperature is a balmy 17c on average.
One for serious swimmers
Ellerton Park, situated between Richmond and Northallerton, is a must for serious open water swimmers and triathletes and is the ideal venue to get some training swims in.
This 60-acre freshwater lake in the countryside is also the swim venue for Long Course Weekend Yorkshire Aug 29 –31 2025.
Many waterfalls in the area descend into pools of water that are perfect to swim in, find yourself in a peaceful woodland setting and let the cool water refresh and rejuvenate you. You can find your perfect waterfall swim online.
Semerwater in Upper Wensleydale is the second largest natural lake in North Yorkshire at 800-metre long and is a great spot for wild swimming surrounded by stunning countryside.
With the shallow entry points and quieter waters on the eastern shore, this is an ideal place for new swimmers to start their wild swimming journey.
Refreshing sea swims
For those who prefer to swim in the sea, North Yorkshire has over one hundred miles of coastline plus some beautiful beaches so you will be spoiled for choice and a bracing plunge in the North Sea is sure to wake you up and get those endorphins pumping ready to start your day.
Many of our beaches have a Seaside Award for water standards - Filey, Runswick Bay, Cayton Bay, Robin Hoods Bay, Sandsend, Scarborough North Bay and Whitby which is also a blue flag beach.
Pool Bridge Farm focuses on wild swimming and well-being. Choose to swim in one of the four lakes which are surrounded by nature. Three of the lakes are adult-only, including the M Lake where you can enjoy the lakeside wood-fired saunas and the Monet Lake where you can swim amongst lilies. The Horseshoe Lake features a 300-metre circuit, and you can even book to swim beneath a full moon!
Please take care when trying wild swimming and be aware of cold water, currents and underwater features like submerged rocks and don’t swim out of your ability. Make sure you are accompanied by someone for your safety and adhere to all safety rules and notices.
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