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This is a classic book about marathon swimming, written in the 1970s. The only copies I could find were very expensive – perhaps pressure is needed on the publishers to reprint it! Swim Speed Secrets What makes the perfect swim? It’s all about the most magical locations (and how to protect them), finessing your kitbag, keeping yourself and others safe … and maybe discovering a nice place for a warm-up cuppa and cake. Whether you’re a seasoned dipper or a fledgling, The Art of Wild Swimming is the ultimate guide to becoming an awesome, joyful and responsible swimmer. (Publisher’s Synopsis) The Art of Wild Swimming – Scotland By far and the most popular book on wild swimmer's bookshelves is Waterlog by Roger Deakin. Deakin set out in 1996 to swim through the British Isles. Waterlog is a personal journey, a bold assertion of the native swimmer's right to roam, and an unforgettable celebration of the magic of water. Here follows a list of books about swimming. If you are looking for inspiration, you’ll find plenty here. These are mainly memoirs of swimming to survive trauma, but there’s also more bucolic descriptive books plus a warm and entertaining novel. This is my bedside table book list, I’m reading through them all in between my own dips.
As one of our key forms of leisure and mass entertainment, tourism was a major growth industry of the nineteenth century and this growth continued into the twentieth century. Starting in the golden age of the Victorian and Edwardian resorts, Eric Simpson explores the ways and means whereby the Scottish people were able to enjoy the benefits of seaside and other holidays, including how they travelled, the things they did and where they stayed. This book, therefore, is not just about the holidaymakers but embraces too the many people in the resorts who made their livelihood in the tourist industry. Sporting activities, for spectators no less than participants, were and still are very important, especially golf. So too was swimming and one of the extraordinary features of the early twentieth century was the craze for open-air seawater swimming pools in a country that is not renowned for great warmth. Many Scottish towns, both large and small, ran into debt to construct the open-air swimming ponds that once dotted the coastline. In the large resorts there were entertainments for the masses. But in the wee quiet places, holidaymakers had to find their own ways of spending their time with bathing, country walks and sports always popular. (Publisher’s Synopsis)
Open Water Swim Books
The wild swimming movement is a little different here in America, where lots of people enjoy the rivers and lakes of this big crazy country. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, the hearty UK swimmer would feel right at home. Our waters are cold and the beer is bold. Snorkeling rivers is just wild swimming while looking down. Take a look, you may be surprised what lives in your favorite swimming hole! Reply experience scarcity of your energy. The most effective Home fitness space is designed remembering the actual We Swam The Grand Canyon by Bill Beers is a tale so crazy it still blows my mind. Just like the title suggests, Beers and a companion pulled off an audacious unsupported descent of the GC in the 50’s. Wiiiiild swimming! I read this book in two days. Completely captivating, a heart wrenching story with wonderful descriptions of emotions and scenery entwined.
The story of Captain Webb, the first person to swim across the Channel. A short but interesting read. Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall. Charlotte Runcie explores what the sea means to us, and particularly what it has meant to women through the ages. In mesmerising prose, she explores how the sea has inspired, fascinated and terrified us, and how she herself fell in love with the deep blue.
BUSINESS
Artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon brings together her passion for images and swimming in this delightful book. Whimsical at times, very beautiful and often uplifting, it’s a homage to the joy of immersion in water and to the creative work it has inspired. Wim Hof shares both his life story and his knowledge / experiences with Cold Water Immersion. He introduces his three-pillar approach, where you can learn to harness the three key elements of Cold, Breathing and Mindset. A great read, regardless of whether or not you choose to follow his methods. He outlines, so many of the benefits which have been brought to us recently through the media. His personal achievements are phenomenal and he encourages each one of us to use his guide to improve our health and performance, although perhaps not go as far as emulating his daring feats! Based in Portobello, Edinburgh, we offer swimming lessons and supervised swims at locations around the Lothians. We can coordinate day trips to East Lothian, The Pentlands and Central Scotland. Bespoke swims are also available at locations in other areas including The Trossachs, Isle of Bute on the West Coast and Aviemore in the Cairngorm National Park.
A house work section permits you to exercise from the finest comfort of your property, probably experiencing a favourite anime above television as Splash is a dive into the history of swimming. 10,000 years of swimming history to be precise. Howard Means begins this compelling narrative in the ancient world through to the modern day. Covering social, geographical, religious and architectural history, the book moves beyond swimming as a sport. It encapsulates how swimming has shaped our society and is a thorough exploration for those who love to get into the water. A look at the cultural aspects of what swimming means. A bit highbrow! The Great Swim by Gavin Mortimer
For local / regional (non UK) coverage of wild swimming places, you will find more places, and the additional coastal locations, in our individual Wild Guides, or more detail in the Wild Swimming Walks series.
Lakes, mountains, pine forests and upland pastures make for a challenging ride in the big hills around Bala. There’s a series of waterfall plunge pools in the clear, peaty waters of the Eunant Fawr stream and at the end of the ride there’s a chance to take a relaxing dip in the cool, calm waters of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), Wales’s biggest natural lake. A beautifully illustrated book which explores the traditions of cold-water swimming and dipping in Scandinavia and beyond. Dr Susanna provides detail of why Winter Swimming provides such a boost to both body and soul, through this shared experience in the outdoors and in nature. This wonderful outdoor activity can influence our happiness, our energy and our inner tranquility, and give us that winter glow. An account of the 1920s race between four Americans to be first woman to cross the English Channel. It focusses more on the battle between the women and the way the media portrayed the story than about the actual swimming, but it’s still a good read. Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World A well presented and informative read. From the author of “The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs” this book is an essential piece of kit for the Open Water Swimmer. Tristan Gooley outlines his knowledge, observations and interpretations of water movement. He gives us direction and clues to develop the observational skills required to identify key signs in a variety of bodies of water. Examples from puddles, streams and lochs to rivers, estuaries and seas. He draws on historical navigational pioneers and his own observations and experiences merging these neatly into well structured and easy to read chapters, which can be read in isolation or enjoyed within the fullness of the book as a whole.
OUTDOOR SWIMMER
An original in the watery journey genre, Waterlog is an account of the author’s 1996 attempt to swim his way through the British Isles. With the helpful eyes and ears of his naturist and documentary maker, his passion for rivers, sea, ponds, pools and lochs is brought to life. In many ways, Roger Deakin founded the wild swimming movement himself. He died in 2006, aged only 63. Lynne Cox has swum the most gruelling and demanding long-distance swims in the world. The Channel crossings came early, then the Bering Strait, Straits of Magellan, Cape of Good Hope and Cook Strait in New Zealand. Her life story and those of her swims are gripping, culminating in her 24 minute Antarctic Swim. WSS Members can request to borrow the 2008 version from Maree Books with “Wild Swimming” Reflections Taking The Plunge This is a memoir of alcoholism and recovery, Amy Liptrot left rehab in England and returned to recover in Orkney, where she was brought up. She joined a swimming group and found in the chilled waters of the North Sea as well as around the hills and islands of the Orkneys what she needed to truly recover. After learning to run and writing a successful book about it, Heminsley sets her sights on sea swimming. This books stands as a cheery account of the trials and tribulations of going from landlubber to proficient swimmer. There’s a twist though, Alexandra commences IVF treatment, which fails and fails again. A winter of sea swimming helps ease the pain and trauma.
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