Wild Swimming in the Lake District: Embracing the changing seasons
A transition can be a time of uneasiness, a letting go of something, but not quite taking hold of the next thing. A time when you need to trust yourself and the process. It might be a familiar transition, one you must make regularly, but which never seems to get easier, or it might be unexpected and even take you by surprise.
I’m Sara Barnes, the new Girl About the Lake District. The transition between old names and new faces will be made smoother by the fact that both Ali and I love being in the water, all year round.
I will be sharing content on my @bumblebarnes Instagram account so follow me for plenty of wild swimming, walks, bike rides, campsites and eateries that I love and want to share with you.
As September begins there are signs all around that alert us to transition: between school holidays and the new academic year, between freedom to roam and the reestablishment of that relentless routine, between long warm evenings and a chill in the air, between packing away our summer clothes and refreshing our jumpers and long trousers. Some of us relish the idea of cosy evenings by the fire as the nights draw in and others squeeze the last few seconds out of every day before retreating indoors.
The beauty of wild swimming is that it offers us the opportunity to cherish something we have loved all summer for even longer, right through to next summer. But, first, we need to let go of the idea of the cold or at least make friends with it. Because in those early days of autumn, September, October, even the first week of November, the water sometimes holds onto the summer temperatures.
Embracing Autumn Wild Swimming in the Lake District
Imagine one of those early mornings in September when a light mist veils the landscape and the overwhelming smell, as you step out of your car by the side of the lake, is of overripe, damp earth and browning bracken. It is up here in the Lake District anyway.
Nature seems to be going all out to impress on days like this: mirror-like reflections of the mountains on the surface of the lake, no sound except the Canada geese and Herdwick sheep. As you shrug off your swim cloak the cool air makes you shiver, a sensory combination of feeling cold and feeling anticipation. Stepping out of your Crocs brings your bare feet into contact with tiny, cold stones, then the refreshing coolness of the shallows where you just want to linger, lift up your arms, retie your long hair and then sink down slowly, breathing out and letting the touch of the water flip the switch.
Loving and Protecting the Lake District
The true magic? You can keep on doing this right through November, December, January, February and into April, when finally, as the sun reheats the depths, the lake feels all joyful again. You’ve done it. You’ve gone through the transition in a beautiful, mindful way with zero fuss, zero regret and a bank full of memories just for you.
The Lake District is a highly sensitive area because tourism has grown exponentially, so many people want to come here.
One of my core values is always about protecting this stunning landscape and working with my fellow Lakelanders to educate and advise visitors (and locals) on how best to enjoy it and leave it better. So, I will be linking up with small businesses and individuals who share this ethos because the more people who love a place, the better we can look after it for generations to come.
By Sara Barnes
Images – Sara Barnes
Hero image – Dreamstime
