The Lake District is quite simply one of the most magical places in the world for wild swimming. We should know, we grew up there. We spent our childhood exploring the lakes, tarns, rivers and waterfalls that are sprinkled all over this corner of Northwest England. In 2015 we also embarked on a source to sea swim of the River Eden, the longest River in Cumbria and 9th longest in the UK. We spent 9 days swimming 90 miles and camped along the way. It’s safe to say we are rather puritanical about exposing the virtues of the Lake District for swimming outdoors. So when Another Place invited us to stay at their hotel on the shores of Lake Ullswater and experience the wonders of wild swimming we jumped at the chance. Little Brother Jack and I decided to bring our mum along for the journey as well. She’s become a huge convert to swimming outdoors and it really is the perfect family activity. Plus once she heard that Another Place had an outdoor hot tub she wouldn’t let us go without her!

We created this beginners guide to help you go on your very own wild swimming adventure with Another Place as your base.

The Lake District is truly a wild swimming paradise.

SWIMSPOT NUMBER 1 - Ullswater Swim Place Endless Pool

Local Legend and swimming extraordinaire Colin Hill has lived on the shores of Lake Ullswater for years. When he’s not swimming Ice Miles and organising events like the London 2012 Olympic Swim and Swim Serpentine he runs his passion project Ullswater Swim Place. His endless pool is the ultimate swimmer’s toy and we would recommend all swimmers at Another Place, regardless of ability, make this their first swim.
Colin’s years of experience and eye for detail lend themselves to an incredible coaching experience. He combines this thoughtful analysis with an incredibly warm and caring manner. He’s like the Yoda of outdoor swimming so to have him giving you expert advice on your swimming technique all with a huge smile and friendly demeanour is an absolute must. Make this your first swim at Another Place and you’ll be zooming off like an Otter on your first swims in the lake!
LEVEL - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced - perfect for all

Little Brother Jack - Ullswater Swim Place

SWIM SPOT NUMBER 2 - Another Place Jetty

The team at Another Place have done a brilliant job at creating a real haven for swimmers. No spot would be complete without a wooden jetty jutting out into the water and this doesn’t disappoint. The jetty is only about 100m from the hotel and we saw plenty of guests trotting down in their fresh white towels in the morning. Leaping off the end and swimming out into the cool embrace of the lake. Then strutting back to the hotel for a nice warm soak in the outdoor hot tub. Scandanavian relaxation done the Cumbrian way!

You can also book a beginner open water swim session with Colin Hill and do this swim as a group. This is a brilliant swim for anyone who is completely new to wild swimming and Colin’s warmth and candour will make even the most novice swimmer feel safe and welcome. Jack and Mum booked in for this swim, donned their wetsuits and enjoyed a lovely 22-minute swim following the shoreline back to the jetty. It’s the perfect way to get your endorphins going, boost your immune system and raise your mood. Plus it has the added benefit of working up a real hunger so you don’t feel quite so guilty about having pudding again in the Ramsbeck that evening!

LEVEL - Beginner

Another Place Jetty - Mum and Little Brother Jack

SWIMSPOT NUMBER 3 - Aira Force Upper Pools

Aira Force is a mighty waterfall just a short drive from Another Place. There is a large car park, with good access and it is very easy to get there from the hotel. On the walk up keep your eyes peeled for Red Squirrels as these fiery forest critters can be seen leaping from the trees that follow the valley up to the falls.

Aira Force looks like it’s been lifted straight out of Elrond’s scrapbook and a beautiful stone bridge arcs its way over the mighty drop. We want to be clear here DO NOT SWIM IN THE POOLS JUST ABOVE THE WATERFALL. Keep walking for another 5 minutes up the track on the right side of the river and you will find a number of beautiful pools and waterfalls. The lower pools have a little bridge going over them and you can leap from a 6ft ledge into the water below. Cross the bridge and walk another 50m upstream to the upper pools where two adjacent waterfalls form perfect bathing pools for beginners to wade in and enjoy a crisp natural shower.

LEVEL - Higher Upper Pools Beginner - Lower Upp Pools - Intermediate to Advanced

SWIMSPOT NUMBER 4 - Brothers Water

We couldn’t be the Wild Swimming Brothers and not visit our namesake lake! Surrounded by green fields, grazing sheep and scenic hillsides, Brotherswater is found at the northwest corner just above Lake Ullswater. Again it is just a short drive from the hotel but offers a more secluded swim spot. At 47 acres there is some controversy as to whether Brotherswater is one of the smallest lakes or largest tarns (mountain lake) found in the Lake District. Tucked into the Hartsop Valley and surrounded by the peaks of the Eastern Fells (mountains), Brotherswater is considered one of Lakeland's prettiest lakes running, only 1/2 mile in length and less than 1/4 mile in width.

There is a small car park and pebbled beach which makes entry and exit very easy and this is a great place for a post-swim piece of cake. For the uninitiated a piece of cake after a wild swim is a real tradition, it’d be rude not to indulge!

LEVEL - Beginner

SWIMSPOT NUMBER 5 - Glencoyne Bay

Glencoyne Bay is another great spot on Lake Ullswater itself. There is a large car park on the opposite side of the ride and this wide bay is the perfect place for an easy entry and exit swim. For beginners, the best advice is to enter the water slowly and to focus on your breathing. Keep calm as you feel the cold and just take it slow. Once you are comfortable slowly submerge and feel the cool embrace of the lake. Swimming parallel to the shoreline means you can still have a decent swim but if you start getting cold just get out and get dried. The swim here offers fantastic views up the lake and is a really awe-inspiring spot.

LEVEL - Beginner

Paddle Boarders moving into view at Glencoyne Bay

SWIMSPOT NUMBER 6 - Gowbarrow Bay

This spot is just a short drive back up towards Another Place from Glencoyne Bay but offers something a little different. Again there is a little car park and pebbled beach which makes entry and exit really easy. On either side of the bay are a large number of trees whose gnarled roots tangle and entwine with the banks overlapping the lake and offer an atmospheric frame to the swim.

If you want to challenge yourself or are a more accomplished swimmer then this is a good spot for a point to point crossing of the lake as it is relatively narrow.

LEVEL - Beginner with Intermediate options for a cross-lake swim.

SWIMSPOT NUMBER 7 - Howtown - Hallin Fell and Steamer

Howtown was the number swim 1 spot when we were students at UCC in Penrith. On summer days during free periods, all the school kids would drive down and leap off the pier. There are a couple of good parking spots and a long pebble beach. This is an ideal picnic spot and you can work up an appetite by climbing Hallin Fell just behind the beach. A short brisk walk but a Wainwright nonetheless. The summit also gives you incredible views of Ullswater and the surrounding fells.

Once you’ve warmed up and then gone for your swim you can catch the ferry to Glenridding and then walk back along the shore to Howtown. It’s a beautiful walk best done in Autumn to catch all the colours of the changing leaves.

LEVEL - Beginner to Intermediate

SWIMSPOT NUMBER 8 - Scales Tarn

Now for something a bit different. Not far from Another Place is one of the Lakes most iconic climbs, the mighty Blencathra. Halfway up Blencathra is a Tarn (mountain lake) which offers a really different wild swimming experience. Tarn swimming can feel like you’re swimming in the sky and the exposed mountain locations make these swims unforgettable.

Scales Tarn is a fine example of a corrie tarn at the foot of Tarn Crags at the eastern end of Blencathra. It collects its water from all around the corrie, with the outfall into Scales Beck on the eastern side. Footpaths lead up to Scales Tarn from Scales, on the A66, some 2 Km away. It’s a perfect way to celebrate after scampering up Sharp Edge and a great new swim for any beginner. Tarns tend to be a degree or two colder than most lakes so this is a short swim for the newer swimmers. Brace yourself, dive in and enjoy your first tarn swim.

LEVEL - Beginner Intermediate and Advanced depending on the time spent in the water

So that is 8 swim spots for you to experience around Another Place but we have barely scratched the surface. There are countless more tarns to explore including the infamous Red Tarn on nearby Helvellyn, the prehistoric tarn of Dales Head and the picturesque Blea Tarn. There are numerous other lakes, waters, rivers and waterfalls to explore. From the shores of Derwent Water to the leaps of Black Moss Pot. From the tumbling rapids of Lacy Caves to the waterside cliffs of Armathwaite on the Eden. The Lake District really is a wild swimming haven and you will not be disappointed!

That’s it for our beginners guide to wild swimming in the area with Another Place. If you want to find out more advice or want to book a stay then check out Another Place’s website for more information. If you needed any more proof of the wonders of wild swimming then check out the size of mums grin below :)

Another Place

Relax at Swim Club

Beginners Guide to Wild Swimming Around Lake Ullswater