Reading Time: 3 mins Wild Swimming. The thought of swimming for free fills us with joy. Every year my local leisure centre increases their prices for a swim and while cutbacks are becoming a huge part of everyday life, I started looking for free ways to stay fit. One result I saw again and again was the idea of Wild Swimming – that is, swimming outside through natural waters such as rivers, lakes and waterfalls – which has really taken off in popularity lately, seen in shows like Countryfile, in which presenter Ellie Harrison enjoyed a wild swim down a country river. Lately, rivers in many areas of the UK are generally way less polluted than they used to be, with conservationists ensuring that natural areas of beauty are clean and safe, for the benefit of the planet and for those who use it. GETTING STARTED RESEARCH AND SWIMMING SKILL First off, do not swim wild if you’re unsure of your swimming skill level: it’s way better to get a few swimming lessons first, ...