Posted on August 24, 2023
With the summer season well and truly in full swing, everyone is looking for the perfect spot to jump in and try out a bit of wild swimming. With beaches being typically busy, why not look further inland for your next peaceful dip surrounded by beautiful nature? With plenty of rivers, lakes and wild swimming spots around The Cotswolds, there are lots of secluded (and more popular) spots to choose from, with sandy beaches, shallow pools for little ones and refreshing longer swims for more confident swimmers to cool off and relax.
Minster Lovell, Witney
Here you’ll find a small, pretty Cotswold river which is one of the most beautiful wild swimming spots in The Cotswolds, running through the beautiful grounds of Minster Lovell ruins. Deep enough to swim above the weir, with plenty of shady spots to picnic on the banks and take in the gorgeous view.
Buscot Weir, Lechlade
The river here has carved a natural deep weir pool, lined with beautiful weeping willows – great for confident swimmers, as the trees make natural diving platforms and the lawns are great for drying off and watching the world go by.
Cheese Wharf, Lechlade
Once a river loading dock for 20 tonnes of cheese a day, Cheese Wharf just upstream from Buscot Weir now offers a deep pool on the river’s bend with a roadside glade for some much needed escape from the heat, as well as rope swings into the river for those who dare.
Stonesfield, Evenlode
A great option with smaller children, Stonesfield is accessed over a pretty footbridge with max 80cm depth and gentle grassy bank access into the clean water. A great fact for little adventurers – it is the site of the first ever dinosaur find in the UK, with plenty of opportunities for fossil hunting along the water line. Downstream from the bridge is privately owned, but head west to ‘Sandy Bay’ for the best bathing area.
River Windrush nr Widford – Burford
Another shallower option is just off the public footpath from St Oswald’s Church in Widford, towards Burford along the river Windrush. Lots of spots to swim and it’s too shallow for boats so safe for little ones.
Lake 32 - Cirencester
If you want a more varied swimming experience head down to lake 32. There you can find a luscious deep lake with 100m, 200m, 400m and 750m lanes open all week round and a 1500m lane open three days a week. With additional activities available on site such as archery, raft building or stand up paddleboarding, there’s plenty here for the whole family to enjoy a day in the water.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Otherwise known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-water is an ideal location to take smaller members of the family for a paddle and a play around in the water. With plenty of quaint shops, cafes and surrounding grassland, you can have a wholesome, unique day out in one of the most idyllic villages in the whole Cotswold area.
Cotswold Country Park and Beach
Not exactly wild swimming, but the Cotswold Country Park and Beach has reopened its bookings for the UK’s largest inland paddling beach just in time for the heatwave. Many of the amenities are yet to open but the family friendly main beach at the south lake is open for some bucket and spade fun. There is also the opportunity for endurance open water swimming in the next door north lake for experienced wild swimmers. There’s plenty of parkland to enjoy if you’re looking for a shady spot for a picnic or a snooze. A great day out if you are missing the seaside.
For those considering an adventurous leap to The Cotswolds, why not read our Area Guides to spots in The Cotswolds we think you’ll love?
From the town where bowles and rugby first started in Painswick to the gorgeous walks and tower that mark Broadway on the map, there are lots of gorgeous towns in The Cotswolds to call home that have easy access to nature.
Books to read
Looking to try wild swimming? here are three great summer reads to both inspire the art of wild swimming and help you discover your own favourite spots around the UK.
Waterlog – A swimmer’s journey through Britain, Roger Deakin
A brilliantly descriptive, poetic read that really sells the romance and freedom of wild swimming - following Roger Deakin around the British Isles from laps in his own Moat, to plenty of recognisable stretches along the Thames and her tributories.
The Mindful Art of Wild Swimming, Tess Wardley
Wild swimming, especially in cold water, has long been shown to have mental health benefits - Tess Wardley's book shares expert and personal anecdotes on the spiritual act of wild swimming as a form of mindful connection to nature.
Wild Swimming, Daniel Start
A wild swimming 'bible' - this photographic guide shares almost 400 spots across the UK to wild swim, with lots of info on where to eat, camp and even take a boat. There are all important safety and access notes too, brilliant for those who've caught the bug and want to find new places to take a dip. The definitive guide to wild swimming in the UK.