Wild Swimming: Perfect Picks for a Winter Dip

It’s cold. It’s wet. A bitter wind wreaks havoc throughout the streets of Falmouth. It’s winter. It’s all too easy to go into hibernation mode. Nothing can convince you to get out of your duvet igloo. Wake up! You’re in Cornwall, one of the most beautiful, rugged places in the UK, perfect for adventuring regardless of the weather. This small piece of paradise rich with hidden gems waiting to be discovered contains some of the best spots for wild swimming.

Ever growing in popularity, the Cornwall Wild Swimming Club has over 1,000 members on Facebook. Wild swimming involves a pilgrimage to secret, unknown, tranquil locations perfect for a dip. There’s something almost ethereal about throwing yourself into a vast expanse of cool water and flailing around amongst nature all for little to no cost. Wild swimming allows the mind to be expelled of all stresses and worries (even hangovers!), and connect with the environment.

Travel writer and environmental consultant, Daniel Start’s Wild Swimming: 300 Hidden Dips in the Rivers, Lakes and Waterfalls of Britain explores the variety of physical and mental health benefits wild swimming has. These range from soothing muscle aches to improving blood circulation and boosting the immune system due to the cool temperature of the water. Helen Riches, an amateur wild swimming enthusiast, and member of the Cornwall Wild Swimming Club, lives with various health problems and a disability. She has had first hand experience of the health benefits including, improved fitness, a period of remission from her condition, an ability to tolerate the cold and an overall improved mood she said.

Here are some of the best-hidden beaches in and around Falmouth superb for a plunge!

Grebe Beach, Durgan, South Cornwall

Just a ten-minute drive or an hour and a half walk along the south west coast path (SWCP) from Falmouth, at the bottom of a short woodland walk, resides the secluded, pebble beach of Grebe. Ideal for wild swimming, the beach boasts stunning panoramic views of the Helford Passage coupled with the tranquillity of being located within a sheltered bay. The calm waters make the area a top spot for beginners. At either end of the beach there are a couple of rocky outcrops excellent for climbing and diving from. This sublime beach is rarely busy especially in the winter months, due to its steep access, giving it a somewhat untouched, personal ambience. A short westerly walk away from Grebe is The Ferryboat Inn on the Helford Passage, a quaint pub that’s serves a wide range of food from locally caught mussels and fish to Cornish steak, fitting for peckish moments.

Treen Cove, Zennor, West Cornwall

Slightly further afield lies a hidden jewel of a sandy beach perfect for a dip. Due to its isolated location, Treen Cove is often deserted, even in high season. Access to the cove involves a beautiful thirty minute walk from Zennor along the SWCP and a slightly challenging scramble down over rocks. Although access is difficult, the tranquil atmosphere and sensational prospects make the journey worthwhile. Overlooked by Iron Age stronghold ruins and an ancient eroded chapel, Treen Cove has historical character alongside a celestial aura great for exploring. Although sheltered by Gurnard’s Headland, caution must be taken when swimming at Treen Cove due to ebbing tides so it is advisable to check tide times before swimming. The rocky outcrop at Gurnard’s Head, a twenty-minute walk west from Treen Cove along the SWCP, is ideal for breathtaking views out all the way out towards America. Packed lunch is best taken for this location due to the nearest pub, The Tinners Arms, being a half hour walk away in Zennor.

Rinsey Cove, Helston, South Cornwall

A thirty-minute drive west from Falmouth, nestled between rocky cliffs along the SWCP is Rinsey Cove, a spectacular spot for wild swimming. This rural cove is situated at the bottom of a ten-minute walk along a steep footpath. Although adorned with slippery rocks (wetsuit boots or rubber jelly shoes are a must), when the tide is in Rinsey is perfect for adrenaline seekers due to its heavy wave break in shallow waters. Checking the tide times is more than advisable here as the tide is inclined to come in quickly. As the cove is in an isolated location, taking a packed lunch is a sensible idea.

Instead of locking yourself away this winter, get out and delve into the world of wild swimming. Ina Hartung, a member of the Cornwall Wild Swimming club, explains the reasoning behind her passion for swimming; “What I most enjoy about sea swimming is surrendering to something so much more powerful than we are as human beings. I learned that the sea started to be kind to me because I treated her with the respect she deserves,” she said.

So grab a couple of your mates and get exploring. If you’re new to wild swimming and interested in meeting new people, sign up to the Falmouth University Sea Swimming society. The club meet every Sunday at 1pm on Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth. WARNING! No wetsuits allowed! If you’re looking to go further afield, try joining the Cornwall Wild Swimming Club. The club organise and arrange various social swims and events all over Cornwall, through the Cornwall Wild Swimming Facebook page.

Go to: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cornwallwildswimming/