Five walks with wild swims thrown in

What better way to cool off from the hot weather than a wild swim? Britain’s mountains abound with clear lakes, tumbling waterfalls, hidden gorges and shimmering plunge pools – here are a handful of the best.

Britain’s wet climate has a positive side. Our mountains are rarely short of water, so during those odd times where the mercury soars parts of the Lake District, Snowdonia or Scotland can turn into something from a shampoo advert, all sun-trapping plunge pools, waterfalls framed by lush vegetation, and crystal-clear glacial lakes shimmering in the sun.

Granted, British mountain streams and pools are rarely what you might call warm. But what could be more invigorating and life-affirming than a dip in bracing water, followed by a bake in the sun surrounded by sublime mountain splendour?

So while the sun shines, we thought we’d make hay be rounding up some of our favourite mountain walks with swims on the way. Get out there while it lasts!

Fairy Pools, Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye

“The spell of the Fairy Pools”, writes wild swimming author Kate Rew, “is that they look as if they must be warm, with the kind of vivid blue water associated with the Maldives.” They are, of course, anything but, having been artfully carved out of the dark gabbro rock by water pouring from the UK’s most formidable mountain range, the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye. Consider yourself lucky if it gets into double figures Celsius, but don’t let that put you off. If you can brave the icy waters for long enough, try swimming under the rock arch buttressing one of the pools from another.

Walk: Fairy Pools and Coire na Creiche (Walk Highlands)

Llyn Ffynnon y Gwas, Snowdonia

Just below the Snowdon Ranger Path, Llyn Ffynnon y Gwas is easily dismissed by walkers intent on their summit goal. In fact, it's a beautiful swimming lake whose petrol blueness is best appreciated by being in it. The name translates as 'The Lake of the Servant's Spring' and folklore has it that a young shepherd drowned here while washing his master's sheep. As the shallows steeply drop away below you at the northern end, close to a ruined shepherd's shelter, it's easy to imagine there is some truth in this story.

Walk: If you’re heading for the top of Snowdon, the Snowdon Ranger Path takes you past Llyn Ffynnon y Gwas. Alternatively, a great circuit from Llanberis, taking in two swims, is to walk up from Bwlch Maesgwm to Llyn Ffynnon y Gwas and then cross over Bwlch Cwm Brwynog for another swim in Llyn Arddu.

Upper Eskdale, Lake District

Arguably there aren’t many places in the Lake District that feel truly remote, but Upper Eskdale is one of the few remaining realms where the obvious traces of humanity are few and far between. It also offers by far the least crowded way of climbing England’s highest mountain, but arguably the most dramatic. The approach following the course of the River Esk takes you through a spectacular mountain corridor opening on to the wild mountain arena of Great Moss, with gin-clear plunge pools along the way as an added bonus.

Walk: Scafell Pike and Scafell from Eskdale

Triple Falls, Glen Etive

Don’t be put off by the tar-black water; that’s only a bit of peat from Rannoch Moor, the famous  wilderness plateau from which the River Etive descends. The spectacularly situated Triple Falls, a series perfectly tiered waterfalls and deep pools connected by sinuous rapids, could have been made for human fun. Well known among kayakers for obvious reasons, the intricate arrangements of ledges, cascades and pools is also a swimmer’s delight.

Walk: Climb Buachaille Etive Mor (Walk Highlands), then take a short drive into Glen Etive to reach Triple Falls – the first waterfalls seen from the road – for a post-Munro dip.

Llyn Edno, Snowdonia

Llyn Edno is one a scattering of lakes pockmarking the lovely, lonely land to the south east of Nantgwynant. It is a true mountain lake away from the beaten path. Set on a plateau with a view across the Gwynant valley to Snowdon, the often boggy approach from the Nantmor road is well worth the effort for Edno's deep clean waters. The remote location makes it an ideal skinny dipping spot and if you're looking for a good work-out then swimming its 300 metre length should suffice.

Walk: Llyn yr Adar and Llyn Edno (Walking Britain). This route allows you to combine a swim in Llyn Edno with dips in Llynnau'r Cwn, the picturesque cluster of three lakes a little higher and to the south of Edno.

Safety Tip

Very few things in life are finer than a swim in a cool body of mountain water at the end of, or during, a sweltering day in the hills. But while it might be awfully tempting to leap straight in to that shimmering, sun-kissed water, such a drastic change in temperature can cause the body to momentarily shut down.

A safer bet is to ease yourself in gradually – even if it’s more painful – and avoid straying too far out into deep, cold bodies of water like lakes and reservoirs. Stay close to the shoreline, and don’t go out alone.

For more safety advice, see the Outdoor Swimming Society website and the Swim Safe code.