Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
-
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: Glasgow
Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
The Orchy Lochy (low water) and Blackwater at Little Garve are good but a bit far from Glasgow. Any other good rivers out there? I'm thinking rocks and pools for plenty of jumping in etc.
Not completely off topic, think of it as fun scouting when there's no paddling to be had.
Not completely off topic, think of it as fun scouting when there's no paddling to be had.
- Liam Kirkham
- Posts: 1206
- Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2005 2:56 pm
- Location: Exeter.
The bottom section of the Etive around Dallness Falls has some good spots and dark gorges to jump and swim.

Rydal Beck in South Lakes. Particularly the pool at the top (Buckstones Jum) is great on a sunny day. Jumps off all sizes.


Also Coniston, Wildcat Island and the Mouth of the river Rothay, Windermere.
The river Leven has a nice little jump at Backbarrow. Watch out for kayakers when you play in the jet the rapid creates.


The River Lune, Kirby Lonsdale. A great bridge jump not for the faint hearted at around 60 foot.
So far down here I've only managed to swim in the sea and not on a paticulary sunny day.

Anyone suggest some nicer spots in Southwest? Preferably fresh water.[/img]

Rydal Beck in South Lakes. Particularly the pool at the top (Buckstones Jum) is great on a sunny day. Jumps off all sizes.


Also Coniston, Wildcat Island and the Mouth of the river Rothay, Windermere.
The river Leven has a nice little jump at Backbarrow. Watch out for kayakers when you play in the jet the rapid creates.


The River Lune, Kirby Lonsdale. A great bridge jump not for the faint hearted at around 60 foot.
So far down here I've only managed to swim in the sea and not on a paticulary sunny day.

Anyone suggest some nicer spots in Southwest? Preferably fresh water.[/img]
- Wildswimmer Pete
- Posts: 1324
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:07 pm
- Location: Runcorn New Town
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Well, there's always the Clyde! I've swum it at Motherwell and I hope to try the river in Glasgow City Centre when I get the chance.
A friend of mine delivers lorries and he often takes me with him if he has a return vehicle.
My Scottish swims so far:
R. Clyde
R. Annan (twice)
R. Spey
Loch Ness.
You're very fortunate North of the Border as the Scottish "Right to Roam" includes the "Right to Swim".
You could get a copy of "Rob's Cool Places" the OW swimmer's "bible" of outdoor swimming spots. It's written and published by Rob Fryer (he is actually a printer!) and available directly from him:
wildswim@talk21.com
You could also join the Outdoor Swimming Society (it's free):
http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/
Likewise RALSA (also free):
http://www.river-swimming.co.uk
and Swimclub:
http://www.swimclub.co.uk
which has a very active open water forum.
We don't have much info on Scottish waters because many folk are under the impression that Scottish waters are too cold to swim. Not in my experience - so we'd really appreciate news of amazing swimming spots North of the Border.
Pete
A friend of mine delivers lorries and he often takes me with him if he has a return vehicle.
My Scottish swims so far:
R. Clyde
R. Annan (twice)
R. Spey
Loch Ness.
You're very fortunate North of the Border as the Scottish "Right to Roam" includes the "Right to Swim".
You could get a copy of "Rob's Cool Places" the OW swimmer's "bible" of outdoor swimming spots. It's written and published by Rob Fryer (he is actually a printer!) and available directly from him:
wildswim@talk21.com
You could also join the Outdoor Swimming Society (it's free):
http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/
Likewise RALSA (also free):
http://www.river-swimming.co.uk
and Swimclub:
http://www.swimclub.co.uk
which has a very active open water forum.
We don't have much info on Scottish waters because many folk are under the impression that Scottish waters are too cold to swim. Not in my experience - so we'd really appreciate news of amazing swimming spots North of the Border.
Pete
Nili illegitimi carborundum
- Wildswimmer Pete
- Posts: 1324
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:07 pm
- Location: Runcorn New Town
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Any top ones near-ish to Leeds apart from Linton Locks? I stopped swimming in rivers/lochs when I was little and I'm realising that I've missed it rather a lot.
Rock 'n roll is the most brutal, ugly, vicious form of expression - sly, lewd, in fact just plain dirty...a rancid-smelling aphrodisiac...the martial music of every delinquent on the face of the earth..." Frank Sinatra 1957
- Liam Kirkham
- Posts: 1206
- Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2005 2:56 pm
- Location: Exeter.
Nina,nina wrote:Any top ones near-ish to Leeds apart from Linton Locks? I stopped swimming in rivers/lochs when I was little and I'm realising that I've missed it rather a lot.
One of my faveourites is another one the Wharfe. There is a footpath behind the Red Lion in Burnsall follow it for fifteen minutes. Here you will find a 15- 20 foot cliff with a deep pool and a clear run up. Loop or Luke scar depending on who you ask.
Another nice stretch of Wharfe runs parralel to Appletreewick town. downstream of Masons campsite on The Dales Way footpath is anothe rrocky section followed by a large natural pool and a rope swing. Just further down is Appletreewick falls which is a grade 3 plus rapid but can be dangerous in high water.
Peny Ghent Ghyll may be a nice stretch to explore aswell, its certainly fun to paddle.
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/penyghentgill.htm
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vKVd1hY2bkE
The most obvious choice I forgot to mention was The Ingleton Waterfalls, on The river Twiss and Doe. Take care where you swim and jump but theres lots of fun to be had there.
- Liam Kirkham
- Posts: 1206
- Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2005 2:56 pm
- Location: Exeter.
- Dave @ TRC
- Posts: 1374
- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:01 pm
- Location: WARRINGTON
- Contact:
In Scotland, Inchcailloch is a lovely wee island in Loch Lomond. It's got beaches, a campsite, bbqs, woods, graveyards and ruins. And a regular ferry from Balmaha.
Dollar Glen is nice, it's been many years since I last went up there but there's two burns (of Care and Sorrow) and one has a nice plunge pool that you can jump into. It's about 40 minutes outside of Glasgow, so might be a bit of a trek if I'm wrong/out of date.
Cheers Liam, now all I need is consistently nice weather!
Dollar Glen is nice, it's been many years since I last went up there but there's two burns (of Care and Sorrow) and one has a nice plunge pool that you can jump into. It's about 40 minutes outside of Glasgow, so might be a bit of a trek if I'm wrong/out of date.
Cheers Liam, now all I need is consistently nice weather!
Rock 'n roll is the most brutal, ugly, vicious form of expression - sly, lewd, in fact just plain dirty...a rancid-smelling aphrodisiac...the martial music of every delinquent on the face of the earth..." Frank Sinatra 1957
-
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: Glasgow
Someone mentioned Langstrath Beck - Black Moss Pot is a classic jump/splash around pool in the middle of summer, and never too crowded as it's a bit of a yomp to get to. Eskdale is good - you can swim at the base of Stanley Force (near Dalegarth) and also there's a cracking jump spot on a bridge near Dalegarth Hall.
There's also a few 'ghyll scrambles' worth doing - Honister beck and Mosedale beck are two I've done in the past. There's a few high tarns that are pretty good too.
There's also a few 'ghyll scrambles' worth doing - Honister beck and Mosedale beck are two I've done in the past. There's a few high tarns that are pretty good too.
-------
Pyro's Yard - Random Wafflings
Pyro's Yard - Random Wafflings
- Wildswimmer Pete
- Posts: 1324
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:07 pm
- Location: Runcorn New Town
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
BUMP!!!
Given the current hot weather, any more suggestions?
Madswimmer Pete
Given the current hot weather, any more suggestions?
Madswimmer Pete
Nili illegitimi carborundum
- banzer
- Posts: 3334
- Joined: Thu May 05, 2005 11:37 pm
- Location: Harrogate, Yorkshire
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 5 times
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
Good bump Pete.
The Allt Mheuran... everything you can paddle, you can slide down on your backside.
Polldubh on the Nevis... took the mask and snorkel down into the pool about 12 metres, lots of wee trout, lovely and clear.
The Allt Mheuran... everything you can paddle, you can slide down on your backside.
Polldubh on the Nevis... took the mask and snorkel down into the pool about 12 metres, lots of wee trout, lovely and clear.
- councildog
- Posts: 579
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:32 am
- Location: Sunny Falkirk Scotland
- Contact:
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
But i would Think Twice about Going Down Pinball On my Backbanzer wrote:
The Allt Mheuran... everything you can paddle, you can slide down on your backside.
There's A cracking Bridge to jump from at the Falls of orchy
Quite good for getting some Downtime Too
-
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:35 am
- Location: Basingstoke
- Been thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
In summer there are still loads of pools on the Dart where you can swim and many people do. Those cooling pools are really welcome on a hot hike across the moors, its a shame the river does not go the whole way! Theres always the lees (or whatever they are called) further on.
Round here (Basingstoke) there are many rivers although mostly for rather tame swimming. The Toll bridge at Pangbourne is a good traditional jump, I've not done it due to extreme cowardice. Last time were were there the river police came and appeared to be telling people they could not jump from the bridge. They did so before the launch was even out of sight!
Barble Bar weir on the Kennet is popular with the local youth, and I swam over it a few time last night between kayaking sessions.
Round here (Basingstoke) there are many rivers although mostly for rather tame swimming. The Toll bridge at Pangbourne is a good traditional jump, I've not done it due to extreme cowardice. Last time were were there the river police came and appeared to be telling people they could not jump from the bridge. They did so before the launch was even out of sight!
Barble Bar weir on the Kennet is popular with the local youth, and I swam over it a few time last night between kayaking sessions.
Last edited by chriscw on Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Chris Clarke-Williams
Location Basingstoke
Paddling Interests:
Touring, Coaching Beginners (I am an L2K), Surf White water trips, Weir Play (I'm not good enough to put freestyle!)
Location Basingstoke
Paddling Interests:
Touring, Coaching Beginners (I am an L2K), Surf White water trips, Weir Play (I'm not good enough to put freestyle!)
- David Martin
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:12 pm
- Location: Glasgow
- Contact:
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
How come no one has mentioned the Falloch? An hour from Glasgow to the Falls and plenty of bits to jump off ranging from 10 to 40+ feet. If you swim up from the Falls there is a couple nice drops to climb up and a couple of siphons that you can swim through. Only problem is that when the weather is nice the midges are hell and the place is like a dump cause all the tracksuit-ambassadors leave their rubbish behind. Get the occasional bikini though...
Life is too short to drink bad wine!
-
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:59 am
- Location: Glasgow
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
Yeah, stopped off at Falloch a while back. Several generations of ned families to be seen, plus plenty of people almost hitting the rock at the bottom. Been at the Lochy and Etive with goggles this summer, v cool.
- Wildswimmer Pete
- Posts: 1324
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:07 pm
- Location: Runcorn New Town
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
BUMP!
Now it looks that Summer '13 might have arrived (avoid blinking!) Anybody thinking of wild swimming while the warm weather is here? I can't indulge myself because of my health but I'd appreciate reading about/seeing everyone else having fun. Bear in mind I'm not allowed to drive any more.
Wildswimmer Pete
Now it looks that Summer '13 might have arrived (avoid blinking!) Anybody thinking of wild swimming while the warm weather is here? I can't indulge myself because of my health but I'd appreciate reading about/seeing everyone else having fun. Bear in mind I'm not allowed to drive any more.
Wildswimmer Pete
Nili illegitimi carborundum
-
- Posts: 1193
- Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:11 am
- Location: the north
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
to the dull mind nature is leaden, but to the illuminated it burns and crackles with light
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
I had lots of fun gorge walking Rydal Beck in the Lakes two weeks ago, and the Cam up by Grantchester is pretty nice right now (but not as nice as Jesus Green lido - 22C today!)Wildswimmer Pete wrote:BUMP!
Now it looks that Summer '13 might have arrived (avoid blinking!) Anybody thinking of wild swimming while the warm weather is here? I can't indulge myself because of my health but I'd appreciate reading about/seeing everyone else having fun. Bear in mind I'm not allowed to drive any more.
Wildswimmer Pete
LV induction guide: http://tmblr.co/ZIurAvTdASgQ
Re: Which rivers are good for swimming on a sunny day?
Ingleton waterfalls (Doe) has some good jumps. A medium one on river right just after Beezley. And a pretty big one on river right again after kiwi pot. You have to clear a lot of land to reach the water!!