DISCOVERY
10 FABULOUS COASTAL SPOTS TO
With the promise of warmer water temperatures on their way, it’s time to take the plunge. CHRISSY HARRIS rounds up some of the UK’s best coastal wild swimming spots
1 CULLYKHAN BAY, PENNAN, ABERDEENSHIRE
Dramatic cliff scenery surrounds this sheltered beach. Castle Point, also known as Fort Fiddes, overlooks the bay and is worth a post-swim climb. Look out farther west and you’ll see the gaping black mouth of Hell’s Lum, a collapsed sea cave at the end of a tunnel. Back in the water, the swimming here is good at high or low tide. Explore the edges and enjoy peering into the assorted rock pools and caves.
2 WARDIE BAY, EDINBURGH
This is a popular choice and great for all ages and abilities. Sheltered by the breakwater, Wardie is usually calm and the water is easy to reach, even at low tide. Serious swimmers make a beeline for the various buoys in the bay, others bob around near the beach. Best to swim to the eastern side of the breakwater to avoid the boats and occasional seals on the harbourside.
3 LONGSANDS, TYNEMOUTH
Longsands or Long Sands, depending on who you talk to, has been named one of UK and Ireland’s best wild swimming spots for water quality and visitor experience. The crowd-dispersing beach has plenty of space to spread out and pick your base camp area before wading into the easy-to-access shallow waters. There’s lifeguard cover from May to September.
4 SEACOMBE CLIFF AND WINSPIT, DORSET
Intrepid types and those of good open water competence will be able to trek down and enjoy swimming off the rocks at this rugged spot.
Conditions have to be right and the water has to be completely flat for this sea swim session but the backdrop is worth it - even if you’re not planning to get wet. “Just being there is really rather special,” says Fay Edgar, of Jurassic Coast Swimming. “You’re surrounded by all of this beautiful scenery. It’s so peaceful.”
5 PORT EIRIAS, CONWY
A slightly tamer wild swim awaits at this manmade beach on the north Wales coast. Port Eirias was a multi-million-pound regeneration project aimed at bringing new energy to the ‘Welsh Riviera’. Thousands of tons of golden sand were pumped on to the seafront at Colwyn Bay in 2013 as part of a flood defence strategy but also to create a seaside haven for locals and visitors. The swimming here is safe and steady and a regular meeting point for the Wild Water Babes group.
6 BIRLI
