Wild Swimming Snowdonia Style….

Wild Swimming Snowdonia Style, not only enriches the soul and pushes you out of your comfort zone, but quite honestly its really good fun! It always amazes me how many people visit Snowdonia without experiencing it.

Snowdonia is full of waterfalls (Rheadar in Welsh) and rivers and its such a unique part of the area that if you come to visit, you really should jump into at least one waterfall pool. Its exciting, its fun, its an adventure, its a challenge and…. its free…

There are many ways to enjoy the pleasures of wild swimming; be it getting suited and booted for a 1 mile lake swim with a group, or, like me, grab your kids, the dog and a towel and go forth looking for the waterfalls and river pools for a quick dunk or a swim around if the temperature allows!

Yes, it is usually a cold affair jumping into the pools, but that’s half the fun – the serotonin high you get for having done it always outweighs the not and that’s just the adults – show me child who doesn’t enjoy jumping off rocks into water!

Yes, you need to be cautious, so go to recommended places. If you want to jump, take goggles with you to see what’s below and water shoes are a good idea to protect your feet. Wearing a wetsuit is not compulsory but you might want to consider if you want to stay in the water for a while.

Waterfalls, lakes and rivers go hand in hand with stunning scenery, so take a picnic with you to enjoy after your swim and make a day of it or plot a route and take the day dipping in and out of some of the most beautiful places in the world…..

To help you get started, here are my top 6 places to go in Snowdonia:

• Llanberis: Rhaeadar Ceunant Mawr: waterfall plunges over 100ft in 2 stages with a huge pool at the bottom to swim and paddle. Also known as Llanberis Falls.

• Llanbedr: Rhaeader Nantcol Waterfall: a series of 3 pools from deep to shallow. The deepest has a 15ft pool with a waterfall backdrop (nice). Great for jumping.

• Maentwrog: Rheaedar Ddu stone beach is hidden in the woods and opens out to a large pool with a big waterfall you can stand underneath.

• Beddgelert: Watkins Path Waterfall: An extended series of pools and falls starting close to the Snowdon Watkins path – BEAUTIFUL.

• Dolgellau: Rhaeadar Mawddach: a large deep plunge pool set among the ruins of a former goldmine

• Blaenau Ffestiniog: Llyn Gwynant also known as Elephants Rock is large lake with a set of rocks resembling an elephant that you can jump off.