Where can I open water swim in Bristol?
- Bristol Harbour
When: Early morning weekend swims in Bristol Harbour 8-10am Sat and Sun
Where: Baltic Wharf, near All Aboard Watersports - Baltic Wharf, In front of The Cottage Pub
Book a Bristol Harbour swimming session
- West Country Water Park
When: The West Country Water Park swimming lake is open almost 365 days a year. Opening hours vary depending on the season.
Where: Based in Bradley Stoke, Winterbourne, North Bristol.
Book a West Country Water Park swimming session
- Cromhall Quarry
When: Tuesday 3pm-9pm, Thursday 3pm-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-3pm
Where: Cromhall Quarry, Wotton Road, South Gloucestershire, GL12 8AA
Book a Cromhall Quarry swimming session
- Clevedon Marina
When: open almost every day of the year 24/7. No need to book. You can check the Clevedon Marina calendar.
Where: Clevedon Marina Lake
- Henleaze Lake
When: swimming times vary in the summer and winter months. Check Henleaze Lake swimming opening times.
*You must be a member to swim at Henleaze lake.
Where: Henleaze Lake, Lake Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS10 5HG
- The Wave
When: The Wave run swimming sessions in the summer months only.
Where: The Wave, Washingpool Farm, Main Road, Easter Compton, Bristol, BS35 5RE
What is open water swimming?
To put it simply, open water swimming is a form of swimming that takes places in open water. Lakes, rivers, the sea, basically everywhere but a swimming pool.
Open water swimming can be seen as more challenging compared to swimming in a pool. You have to contend with natural elements like waves, currents and cold temperatures! Visibility can be poor when you swim in open waters so it takes more effort to stay on track and navigate through the waters.
Is open water swimming good for you?
Absolutely! There are so many mental and physical benefits when it comes to open water swimming. These include;
- Improved cardiovascular health – swimming gets the blood pumping around your body and engages your heart and lungs.
- Muscle strength and endurance – swimming gets multiple muscle groups working which promotes overall strength and stamina.
- Low impact – swimming is gentle on your joints making it a great choice for those recovering from injury or joint paint.
- Boosted immune system – regular cold water swimming has been associated with increased resilience to illness due to the body's natural response to cold water stress.
- Improved circulations - cold water exposure promotes better blood circulation as the body adapts to colder temperatures.
- Improved lung function – when you swim in open water you need to adapt your breathing, improving lung capacity and control.
Do cold plunges help with menopause?
Research suggests that open water swimming can help reduce stress and anxiety*.
The study included 1,114 women, 785 of whom were going through menopause. All swam in cold water to see if it would reduce symptoms from menopause.
The researchers reported that:
- Nearly 47% of the women reported improvement in anxiety symptoms.
- 34% reported improvement in mood swings – going for a cold dip can also help manage stress by lowering cortisol levels which can help with mood swings.
- 31% found it helped improve mood - cold plunges are known to stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural mood elevators. This can help with mood swings, irritability and anxiety.
- 30% found reduced hot flashes - cold exposure can help regulate body temperature, potentially reducing the severity and frequency of hot flashes.
Natural remedies to reduce perimenopause and menopause symptoms
A.Vogel Menoforce & A.Vogel Menosan
A safe and commonly used herbal medicinal product during the menopause.
Used to support a number of menopausal symptoms:
- Sage positively improves symptoms of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, helps memory, and is able to bring about a sense of calmness, clarity and positivity.
- Sage is used successfully for the treatment of hot flush frequency and intensity.
- There are no estrogenic effects.
What are the side effects of open water swimming?
We’ve listed plenty of benefits to open water swimming, but it’s really important to take safety precautions too.
It goes without saying that water temperature can fluctuate and dramatically drop, especially when you swim all year round. Hypothermia can set in when your body’s core temperature drops so wearing a proper wetsuit and even boots, gloves and a hat in the colder months makes sure you are well protected.
Pollution poses a real risk to those who open water swim, especially if you swim in the sea. A study by University College London (UCL) warned pollution in UK waters could increase the likelihood of gastroenteritis and other infections.*
If you’re just taking up this sport then we recommend going open water swimming somewhere that has lifeguards. If you’re going somewhere off the beaten track then go with someone else so you can keep an eye on each other.
* https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cold-water-swimming-may-help-reduce-menopause-symptoms
