Swimhiking Blog May and June 2009

Well of course I have done loads of swimhiking, becuase the May weather has been wonderful, and after a shaky start, June is not bad either. Ken and I have swam beneath Prebend’s brige. And with Steve I have been testing out swimming spots near Sunderland Bridge. Matt however, has fallen off a cliff while exploring the lower readches of the River Wear below Durham. He is OK, but is needing to take a break before getting back into the water.

A Lake District Loop

As well as swimhiking, I have visited a number of small Lake District tarns just to have a swim in, and have put together a rather nice loop, which can be done in a long day (though I took a tent). You start at Seathwaite in Borrowdale, and make your way to Tarn at Leaves. This is reedy at the ends, but excellent for swimming in the middle. Pop over Glararmara to a little tarn just above High House Tarn. Climb Allen Crags and descend to Sprinkling Tarn and Styhead Tarn (both fab--this section of the route is detailed in ‘Swimhiking in the lake District and North East England’).

From Styhead Tarn head over Green Gable to Blackbeck Tarn which is not bad and much better than nearby Innominate Tarn which is too shallow and cutesy for a satisfactory swim. From Blackbeck Tarn contour beneath Grey Knotts and descend Sourmilk Gill to get back to Seathwaite.

Not only does this route cover five excellent tarns, but there are also several places to enjoy a swim in a river pool--(you can find these for yourself!). I was lucky with the weather and the whole thing was heavenly apart from camping on a nest of fleas (or maybe they were just living in my sleeping bag).

Hikers and campers were everywhere enjoying the sunshine, but I could not help but notice that no one else was swimming. One person, however, had a small dog that he threw into the water.

Open water swimming, while not as common as it should be, is at least a universal enoyment, children and dogs seem to especially like it, but adults of all ages participiate in it too. But swimhiking is still mainly the preserve of the more dedicated outdoor types. I think of Steve the experienced mountain man, full of marvellous tales of the Hindu Kush. I think of Ken the taciturn trans-continental cyclist--and what tales miight he have to tell! And I think of Matt, the enfant terrible of swimhiking, constantly pursued by cows and plunging off cliffs. But swimhiking need not be confined to daredeveils and men who, as it were, have survived a life of adventure merely by accident. No, it is naturally a family activity, one for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

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