After the intense winds of Storm Darragh and the frosty chill in the air, swimming outdoors is probably the last thing you want to do right now. It’s not really the season for it here in the UK but if you’re one of the crazy few who enjoy a cold winter dip or are already dreaming of next summer’s wild swims, you’ll be interested to know that two UK natural swimming pools have just been named among the best in the world.
Experts at travel insurance company AllClear looked at factors including search demand and online reviews to reveal the best natural pools on the planet. For clarification, they define natural swimming pools as ‘either naturally occurring pools that are formed through volcanic activity, tidal movements or erosion, or can be man-made but still function like a natural body of water – with non-chemically treated fresh or saltwater’.
Representing the UK next to pools in Spain, Portugal, Australia and Canada was Somerset’s Clevedon Marine Lake, which landed in sixth place. It’s a tidal infinity pool that fills up with seawater from the Bristol Channel each spring tide and is kept clean and safe by an army of volunteers from a charity called Marlens.
At number 11 on AllClear’s list was Bude Sea Pool in Cornwall (pictured above). Swimmers can enjoy this partially manmade tidal pool free of charge, all year round (besides two weeks in April or May when it goes through some essential maintenance). It’s also managed by a volunteer-run charity and depends on donations to stay safe and clean.
Take a dip with Time Out
While there are lots of worries over how safe wild swimming really is, there are plenty of gorgeous bathing spots in the UK that are vetted by the Environment Agency and this year, 27 more were officially approved. For more natural bathing spots, check out Time Out’s selection of the most beautiful across the country and the best places to wild swim near London.
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