Wild Swim Snowdonia

The health benefits of wild swimming are well documented and its popularity is fast gaining momentum amongst those who love the great outdoors. The Victorians were crazy about bathing in cold waters to give you a strong constitution. And today, many athletes use it as recovery from vigorous training to repair their muscles.

Another benefit is its affect on our mental health. Cold immersion gives you a natural endorphin rush which raises the mood. Over a period of time, some believe it can help with depression, bring down blood pressure and cholesterol, help with insomnia and nervousness and build up your immune system. The afterglow you get from a cold water dip is just the cherry on the top!

For years, I’ve dipped in and out of the easy to access lakes and rivers in Snowdonia and loved every minute of it. But I’ve always been a bit tentative to go further afield on my own. However, this has all changed with the launch of Wild Swim Snowdonia which has been set up by two local ladies, Meg and Laura.

Wild Swim Snowdonia offer guided swims throughout Snowdonia. They are not adrenaline fuelled, mad dashes across a lake, but it’s about enjoying the benefits of cold water among like minded people in some of the most beautiful places Snowdonia has to offer. A morning or afternoon out with these ladies sounds perfect. They find the dreamy spot, help get you ready to acclimatise to the water, take you for a swim and then after, while you’re basking in your ‘afterglow’ (it’s the buzzword in wild swimming) you sit around a campfire with a cup of tea.

Both ladies are open water lifeguards with remote first aid skills which instantly takes away any worries you may have with taking to the open waters. But more than anything, having the local knowledge of where to go and as a group is the real attraction here. The endorphin super high you’ll get will leave you wanting more and this is what is making wild swimming grow so quickly in popularity – the effects are instant.

If you are interested in to joining one of their groups, head over to their website www.wildswimsnowdonia.co.uk. Prices start from £25 and if you live locally, they have a free swim group – again all details can be found on their website.