Swim Wild and Free: A Practical Guide to Swimming Outdoors 365 Days a Year

by Simon Griffiths

'I love this book …' Louise Minchin

'The perfect companion for anyone who wants to swim outdoors.' Your Healthy Living

This is the ultimate practical guide to get you swimming outdoors, 365 days a year.

Whether you want to take your first tentative dip in your local wild swimming spot or take on a long-distance swimming challenge, you'll find everything you need to embrace outdoor swimming and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits it offers.

Have you ever wondered what kit you need for winter swimming or how to fall in love with the cold? This book includes dedicated information about each season, ensuring you have everything you need to make outdoor swimming something you can enjoy safely all year round.

Discover how to overcome your outdoor swimming fears and why becoming an outdoor swimmer can help you cope better with the ups and downs of daily life. Find out the differences between swimming in oceans, rivers and lakes, learn how to become a stronger swimmer and how to design your own training plans.

Featuring case studies from people with a wide range of backgrounds who have embraced the outdoor swimming lifestyle, including people living with physical disabilities and mental health challenges, this is the book for anyone who wants to swim outdoors.

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2022

Reviews

[Matthew McElroy · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's a nice book, inspiring at times and too informal at others. As someone who does a fair amount of open water swimming, mostly in the ocean, but a bit in the intracoastal, there wasn't much in here that was new.
The section on cold water swimming was probably the most unfamiliar to me, but it is also the most foreign- I work during the winter, and there are very few people who share a. similar ethos.

It is a little bit of a strange book- it feels written for beginners, but very few people will start their swimming experience in the open water

I enjoyed seeing the world from the perspective from someone who loves open water swimming. I also appreciate his work to get the most diverse group of swimmers possible, including Black (English people of African descent) and differently abled people. Griffiths let those people tell their stories, which was good to hear.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started my outdoor swimming journey last August. This book has been an interesting read with some fantastic information and advice. A great reference section at the end too. Lots of advice on cold water swimming and the notion of do what works for you.

[Jen_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to wild swimming for armatures like myself..beautiful pictures and lots of helpful tips and advice but felt the author could have gone into more detail at times

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great info

This is probably a 5 star book if you live in the UK. For me I felt like it had a bit too much information that was specific to that region only. Otherwise it was a great read with lots of useful advice.

[Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to give you all the basics and enthusiasm to start wild swimming!

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of solid practical information, though very UK-centric in its examples.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to open water swimming

[Margaret Povey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are wanting to dip your toes or throw yourself in, this is a good read to highlight a lot of things you may not have thought of associated with wild swimming.