Review: South Lodge Sussex Wild Swimming Weekend
South Lodge is a swish Sussex hotel, but it has a surprisingly wild side. Alongside this former Victorian manor’s luxury spa and beautifully landscaped grounds (all 93 acres of them), you can also hide away in The Reeds, a collection of secluded lodges perched over a limpid lake fringed by lily pads. Ready to dip a toe in wild waters? As well as a plunge in the lake or the hotel’s natural swimming pond, you can join regular wild swimming weekends led by an expert.
I joined Ella Foote, editor of Outdoor Swimmer magazine and an experienced wild swimming coach, for one of South Lodge’s Wild Swimming Weekends. These two-day workshops are suitable for everyone, from total beginners wondering how they can brave their first cold-water dip to experienced swimmers looking to refine their technique. And while you’ll be immersed in nature for lots of the weekend, there’s plenty of time to relax in South Lodge’s lovely spa, or grab a bite in plant-based restaurant, Botanica.
We began our classes in the art of cold water in the hotel’s little swimming pond, a calm, sheltered spot fringed with reeds and perfect for taking your very first step from chlorinated pool to something a little more natural. Then we moved to the spa’s indoor pool to work on front crawl technique. Despite swimming for years, I still get nervous about keeping my face underwater for long periods. Ella’s practical tips on breathing, head position and body alignment immediately improved my stroke – and my confidence.
In the afternoon we donned tow floats and followed a pqath to South Lodge’s beautiful lake. Edged with lily pads and overlooked by the hotel’s striking Reed lodges, it was a serene place to practise new swimming skills. Our group of dippers clambered down the ladder and slipped into the water as light rain began to fall. Swimming past rosy-hued water lilies while breathing in the scent of wet woodland was a wonderful reminder of why wild swimming is so addictive. There was time for me to practise my new and improved front crawl before simply floating on my back and soaking up the sights and sounds of the surrounding trees.
One of the nicest things about South Lodge’s weekend workshop is that it isn’t packed from dawn until dusk. There’s plenty of free time to relax, stroll in the hotel’s grounds and enjoy the spa’s sauna and heated pool, which are perfect for warming up and relaxing muscles after a morning spent swimming in fresher temperatures.
While I’d definitely recommend Ella’s coached weekends and day-long workshops to wild swimmers of any level, you don’t need to join a retreat to experience the water at South Lodge. Guests can also book onto lifeguarded lake swimming sessions, and the natural swimming pond forms part of the spa experience, making it easy to weave wild swimming into a chilled-out weekend away.
If you do decide to spend the night, South Lodge’s Reeds are the last word in lakeside luxury. My treehouse-like cabin sat right on the water’s edge, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ever-changing waters of the lake. Downstairs was a huge living area opening onto a deck and complete with a private sauna and a tin tub to soak in, while upstairs a light-filled mezzanine bedroom offered the perfect place to snuggle up after a day in and out of the water.
If you love wild swimming (or want to try the delights of wild water for the first time) but also love your creature comforts, South Lodge might just be your dream weekend escape.
South Lodge Wild Swimming Weekend: from £645 per room for one guest, £785 for two guests, or £210 per person for the day experience.
