Braced for the plunge

No matter whether you call it ‘wild’ or ‘cold-water’ swimming, it offers peace, exercise and a primeval sense of being at one with nature

- ETTIE NEIL-GALLACHER

First things first: I loathe the term ‘wild’ swimming, unless one is talking about crossing maelstroms or swimming the Hellespont like The Wild Swimming Brothers (called after their mother’s maiden name rather than after their preponderance for swimming in nature). By the same logic, going for a jog in the park should be called ‘wild’ running, as it doesn’t take place on a running track, and a walk across the fields should be a ‘wild’ walk.

Wild swimming can sound pretentious and exclusive – like there’s a sort of ultraswimmers’ club out there, for the members of which a trip to the local swimming pool was just never quite enough. “It turns on its head what swimming should be about,” notes criminal barrister and enthusiastic swimmer Maximilian Hardy. “It’s for all.” There’s nothing affected about swimming in lakes, rivers, and the sea. Far from it: it’s the most natural of all activities, requiring minimal equipment and resources.