Welcome to the Lake District National Park, England’s largest and perhaps best-loved protected wild space. Home to soaring mountains, tucked-away little villages and the iconic wide ribbons of deep water (sixteen of them, in fact) that give it its name. The Lake District is a walker’s – and a wild swimmer’s – dream adventure destination.
If, like me, you love to combine a hill hike with a cooling wild swim, look no further . These are eight of my favourite wild swimming walks in the national park, including routes that seek out Cumbria’s secret deep, clear river pools, known as ‘pots’, as well as rambles to the shores of better-known lakes such as Rydal and Derwentwater. All of these rambles can be made shorter and easier too, if you just fancy a quick dip.
Eight of the best wild swimming walks in the Lake District, Cumbria
LOUGHRIGG FELL AND RYDALE WATER
There’s a lot to love about this short wild swim walk. It’s a quick and easy one to fit into a trip to the Lakes, but clambering up to the top of Loughrigg Fell rewards the walker with jaw-dropping views across to Grasmere and of the surrounding fells. Then it’s a quick hike down again to the shores of Rydal Water. Rydal is one of my favourite lakes in the national park to swim in because there’s no boat traffic to worry about, and because you can easily swim out and around its two small, wooded islands, Heron Isle and Little Isle.
Length: 3.6 miles
TONGUE POT AND KAIL POT
This remote wild swimming and walking route really has it all – but first you’ve got to get there. The vertiginously steep Hardknott Pass road is revered by cyclists and road trippers alike for its 14% average gradient and far-reaching mountain vistas, but is often cut off by snow in winter. If you can get down it to start this walk, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the Eskdale Valley.
The first stop are the remains of a Roman fort, still clinging to the hillside. From here, follow the river to reach the deep, clear emerald-green waters of Tongue Pot, fed by a waterfall and definitely one of the most beautiful and secluded wild swim spots I’ve come across in Britain.
On the way back from this glorious spot you’ll also find Kail Pot, smaller and shallower but still a lovely place for a plunge or for a picnic.
Length: 6.2 miles
STRIDING EDGE TO HELVVELLYN AND THE RED TARN
Striding Edge has to be one of the most iconic, and most accessible scrambles in Britain, and it also makes for a pretty epic wild swim walk.
Follow the narrow ridge (pick a clear, windless day and don’t attempt it in winter unless you’re experienced) up to the summit, where there are amazing views across the Lake District. Then loop down again via Swirral Edge to reach the Red Tarn, which is a lovely place to stop for lunch and a cooling swim. I’ve even seen people stand-up paddle boarding here! I like to walk back via Brownend woods and Lanty’s Tarn, which is a much quieter, gentler route.
Distance: 7.7 miles
LOUGHRIGG TARN
I can’t think of a more peaceful place to while away a sunny day than the shores of Loughrigg Tarn. This wide pool is lined with trees, and there’s a lovely open meadow behind it for warming up in the sun after a dip. This circular walk up into the hills rewards with sweeping hill views before dipping back down to the tarn for a well-earned dip, and you can also expand it to include Loughrigg Fell’s summit and carry on over into the next valley for a dip in Rydal Water. I’ve always found the water here to be warmer than your average chilly Lakes dip, and there are shallows where kids can splash and search for tadpoles. And if you can’t bear to leave after a day of the life aquatic, Lower Tarn Campsite is next door.
Distance: 5 miles
BLACK MOSS POT
Bet you didn’t know you could go cliff jumping in the Lake District. Cumbria’s unique ‘pots’ — deep natural swimming holes — are amazing spots for a swim. Black Moss is one of the best-known, and the walk from Stonethwaite to find it is a gorgeous ramble through the fells. Once you reach the pot you can clamber down the rocks or jump in from the cliffs if you’re brave! Stonethwaite campsite, nearby, is a simple but lovely place to camp with incredible mountain views.
Distance: 9 miles
BLEA TARN
The autumn colours were changing before our eyes when we hiked along the flanks of the fells and through the red heather to reach Blea Tarn from the village of Elterwater. The water here is cold, deep and tinged an iron-y red, and reflects the surrounding mountains perfectly – like swimming in a mirror. The wooded fringes of the lake are the best place to get changed and wade in. The Wainwright Inn is a cosy pub to warm up in with a pint after a chilly but rewarding swim. If you fancy an all-day swimming adventure, you could combine this hike with a trek through Hard Knott Pass to seek out Tongue Pot, another glorious swim spot.
Distance: 7.7 miles
BUCKSTONES JUM
This is one of the stiffer hikes on my list but it’s well worth the stiff climb up to Nab Scar and Great Rigg on clear days for huge views across the Lake District. Form here you can amble back to Rydal on the Coffin Route and then follow a shorter loop into the valley you were looking down on to seek out Buckstones Jum (or Jump, depending on which map you’re looking at), a deep waterfall-fed pool nestled in the valley perfect for a cooling dip. Below the pool are a necklace of deep little plunge pools to play in, all with views back down to glittering Rydal Water. The walk ends at Rydal Mount, once home to William Wordsworth, where there’s a laid-back garden tearoom ideal for warming up with coffee and cake.
Distance: 11 miles
HOLME FELL
This swim spot is further from the madding crowds you might find at some of the Lake District’s more popular swim spots – Holme Fell is a little more remote and makes for a wonderful wild walk. Bimble about on the hills and you’ll get your first glimpse of the deep, still waters of Holme Fell Lake, then drop down for a dip – there’s a natural shallow end with space to get changed and step into the water. Onwards from the lake you’ll also find the vertiginously steep walls of Hodge Close Quarry (but note that swimming is dangerous, and thus not permitted, in the quarry pool).
Distance: 4 miles
FIND MORE WILD SWIMMING GUIDES AND ADVENTURES HERE
