Discover the Best Outdoor Swimming Spots in the South West
Award winning travel and outdoors journalist and local author Siân Anna Lewis showcases over 50 wild swimming and open water swimming spots on the beaches, rivers, lakes, and tidal pools of the West Country in her new guide book Swimming Wild in South West England.
For Siân, swimming under an open sky is one of the best ways to experience nature, and the West Country is a goldmine. From the coastal regions, to the River Avon and Dartmoor National Park there are silent pools and pristine waters hidden around every corner, and with this book, you won’t need to search for them.
This guide has something for all swimmers, whether you’re just curious, or are a seasoned swimmer who’s already taken the plunge. Swimming Wild in South West England includes practical advice on access points, safety, tides and currents, conditions underfoot, and potential hazards. The stunning photography and clear Ordnance Survey and custom maps complement detailed descriptions of each location. Of course, you can’t forget to stop off at a recommended sauna or refreshment stop afterwards, an essential part of wild swimming.
Drawn from Siân’s extensive experience the book includes a selection of paid-for lakes which, although they may not strictly count as ‘wild’ swims, the dedicated swimming venues complete with lifeguards, water quality testing and a good coffee van are brilliant for regular practice or for dipping your toe into the world of wild swimming. The heart of this book lies in the truly wild spots. From hidden plunge pools on Dartmoor and secret skinny dips on the Devon coast to Dorset’s rocky coves, this region offers some of the most diverse wild waters in Britain.
Whether you’re a seasoned wild swimmer or just beginning your outdoor swimming journey, Swimming Wild in South West England offers inspiration, reassurance and adventure in equal measure. This is the ultimate guide to discovering the region’s finest places to swim — and warm up afterwards.
About the author
Siân Anna Lewis is an award-winning travel and outdoors journalist and author. She writes about her adventures for Lonely Planet, The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Sunday Times, and edits award-winning blog The Girl Outdoors. Siân has been swimming out of doors since she can remember, and now swims year-round across the South West and beyond (when she isn’t hiking, wild camping or travelling). As well as Swimming Wild in
South West England, she is the author of The Girl Outdoors (Bloomsbury), Wild Escapes and Under the Stars (National Trust Books), and co-author of Best Day Walks Great Britain (Lonely Planet). She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and ocean-obsessed toddler.
Title: Swimming Wild in South West England
Author: Siân Anna Lewis
Publication Date: 07.05.2026
@sianannalewis
