What exactly counts as a wild swimming spot?

A wild swimming spot is any natural place you can safely get into the water. It could be a river pool, a lake, a waterfall plunge, or a quiet stretch of sea. What matters most is that the water is accessible, clean and suitable for a dip.

How do I know if a wild swimming spot is safe?

Look for clear water, gentle edges and easy entry and exit points. Check the weather, avoid strong currents and take a moment to observe the water before getting in. Natural conditions change often, so trust your instincts.

Do I need any special equipment for wild swimming?

Not much. Wet shoes, a towel, warm layers for afterwards and waterproof plasters for any cuts are useful. If the water is cold, a light swim top can help too.

Is wild swimming suitable for beginners?

Yes, as long as you start slow and choose simple, calm spots. Avoid deep or fast-flowing water until you feel confident.

How can I find wild swim spots on my road trip?

If your chosen route includes wild swim opportunities, you’ll find them marked on the interactive map with notes to help you decide which places suit your plans for the day.

Are wild swimming spots free to visit?

Many are free, such as rivers, lakes and coastal areas used by local communities. Some areas may have parking fees or restrictions depending on the landowner.

Can I wild swim all year round?

You can, but cold-weather swimming needs extra caution, warm layers afterwards and a much shorter time in the water.

Is wild swimming legal in the UK?

It depends on the location. Access laws vary between England, Wales and Scotland. Some waters are widely used by the public, while others sit on private land. If a landowner asks you to leave, this should be respected.

It’s always better to swim with someone or, at minimum, tell someone exactly where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

What should I do if I feel cold quickly?

Get out of the water, dry off and put warm layers on straight away. Even strong swimmers can get cold faster than expected in natural water.

Why Wild Swimming Belongs on Your Road Trip

Wild Swim Spots for your road trip

• Natural swim spots: rivers, lakes, waterfalls and coastal pools to enjoy along your route.

• A fresh perspective: moments that help you feel more connected to the places you explore.

• Easy additions: simple stops that bring energy, calm and a sense of discovery to your trip.

Swimming in the wild is a whole other level of fun on a road trip. These natural places, such a cool river pool, a lake surrounded by mountains, or a calm stretch of sea, make you want to stop, breathe, and take in the scenery in a deeper, more unforgettable way. Many roads in the UK go near great places to swim in the wild, and even a short pause might be one of the best aspects of your trip. Wild swimming is a great way to enjoy the freedom of driving yourself, because it lets you slow down, enjoy the environment, and see locations you might not have found otherwise. With some planning and an eye for safe swimming locations, it becomes an easy and fun way to make your trip more exciting. If you love wild swimming or are just getting started, it's a great way to add to any road trip.

Take a further look below on how you can locate and safely enjoy a wild swim on your break:

Part 1: What Wild Swimming Actually Is

Wild swimming is simply slipping into natural water and enjoying it as it is – a cool river pool shaded by trees, a peaceful lake that feels miles away from everything, a waterfall plunge that wakes you right up, or a quiet corner of the coast where you can float and watch the sky. There’s something incredibly grounding about it. No tiles, no crowds, no noise – just fresh water, fresh air and a moment that feels completely yours.

On a road trip, these dips can become the highlights you never planned. They break up long drives, help you pause for a breath, and let you experience the landscape in a much more personal way. Even a quick swim can change the tone of your day and leave you feeling lighter and more present.

In the next parts, we explore why wild swimming adds so much to a road trip, how to find safe and enjoyable spots along your route, practical safety tips, extra advice for getting the most out of each swim, and easy ways to fit wild swimming into your travel plans. Together, these steps help make wild swimming a simple, enjoyable and memorable part of your journey.

Part 2: Why Wild Swimming Elevates Your Road Trip

Wild swimming brings something special to a road trip that you simply can’t get from viewpoints or roadside stops. It invites you to pause, take a breath and actually feel where you are.

A swim can reset your energy, cool you down on a warm day, or give you a quiet moment when everything else feels busy. It’s also a lovely way to experience a landscape more deeply. Instead of just looking at a valley or coastline, you’re suddenly part of it — hearing the echo of water, feeling the temperature, noticing things you’d never see from the car.

These little moments often become the stories you remember most, long after the bigger attractions have faded.

Why Wild Swimming Elevates Your Road Trip

Part 3: How to Find Wild Swim Spots on Your Route

Some road trips naturally pass by beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls, while others have just a few carefully chosen spots. Geography plays a huge role.

To make things easier, routes that feature wild swimming include a map layer with handy details like:

the type of swim — river, lake, waterfall or coastal
coordinates including longitude, latitude and What3Words
a sense of the setting so you know what to expect
how close it sits to your planned route

Think of this as a starting point. It gives you enough information to explore safely and decide whether a swim fits your day. The landscape changes constantly, so it’s always worth taking a moment to read the water and trust your own judgement.

Part 4: Tips for Staying Safe When Wild Swimming

Wild swimming is wonderful, but natural water can behave differently to what you might expect. A bit of awareness goes a long way toward keeping the experience enjoyable.

Choose the right spot
Look for clear water, gentle access and places that feel welcoming rather than risky or rushed.

Check the conditions
Recent rain, strong currents, cold temperatures or murky water can turn a usually calm spot into something unpredictable.

Know your exit points
Before you get in, make sure you know exactly where you’ll get out. It sounds simple, but it’s an easy detail to forget.

Don’t swim alone
Bring a friend, or at least make sure someone knows when and where you’re swimming.

Pack a few basics
Wet shoes, a warm towel or jumper, and something to drink afterwards all make the experience more comfortable.

Part 5: More tips for getting the most out of your swim

Small things can make your swim much more fun:

Take it easy at first, especially if the water is cold.
If you start to feel too cold or light-headed, get out of the water.
Stay hydrated before and after
Don't jump into water you don't know how deep it is.
Put something over any cuts or scrapes.
Watch out for other people and animals.
Be careful of rocks that you can't see or drops that happen quickly underwater.

None of this is hard; it's just a type of peaceful awareness that lets you appreciate the moment without worrying.

Part 6: Understanding the Law

The law about swimming in the wild in the UK isn't always clear. Some lakes and rivers are open to everyone, whereas others are owned by private people.
The swim spots on our map are areas that have been open to the public for a long time or are easy to get to. But this isn't always the case.

Keep these points in mind:
Access rights are not the same in England, Wales, and Scotland.
You should always do what the landowner asks you to do and go.
Just because you could get in before doesn't mean you'll always be able to get in. Things can change from year to year.

This isn't legal advice; it's just a kind reminder to be careful, be polite, and trust your own judgement.

Part 7: Fitting Wild Swimming Into Your Road Trip

If your chosen route includes swim spots, you’ll see how many there are and where they appear along your journey. This makes it easy to plan a dip at a point in the day that suits you — perhaps after a walk, before lunch or at the end of a long drive.

You can pack what you need in the car, choose which spots appeal most, and make gentle detours to places that look particularly inviting. Even a short swim can change the feel of your day, helping you settle into the landscape and enjoy the journey at a calmer pace.

A wild swimming spot is any natural place you can safely get into the water. It could be a river pool, a lake, a waterfall plunge, or a quiet stretch of sea. What matters most is that the water is accessible, clean and suitable for a dip.
Look for clear water, gentle edges and easy entry and exit points. Check the weather, avoid strong currents and take a moment to observe the water before getting in. Natural conditions change often, so trust your instincts.
Not much. Wet shoes, a towel, warm layers for afterwards and waterproof plasters for any cuts are really useful. If the water is cold, a light swim top can help too.
Yes, as long as you start slow and choose simple, calm spots. Avoid deep or fast-flowing water until you feel confident.
If your chosen route includes wild swim opportunities, you’ll find them marked on the interactive map with coordinates and notes. These help you decide which places suit your plans for the day.
Many are completely free, such as rivers, lakes and coastal areas that are traditionally used by local communities. Some areas may have parking fees or restrictions depending on the landowner.
You can, but the experience is very different in cold weather. Winter swimming can be refreshing but requires extra caution, warm layers afterwards and a much shorter time in the water.
It depends on the location. Access laws vary between England, Wales and Scotland. Some waters are freely used by the public, while others sit on private land. If a landowner asks you to leave, this should always be respected.
It’s always better to swim with someone or, at minimum, tell someone exactly where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
Get out of the water, dry off and put warm layers on straight away. Even strong swimmers can get cold faster than expected in natural water.

Check out our Find Inspiration pages for ideas on where to go, if you’re looking to hire or buy, check out our Find a vehicle pages, and our Route Planner tips.