Dive into Britain’s literary heritage with 10 inspiring wild swims from the newest edition of Wild Swimming Britain.
Wild swimming is not just an outdoor adventure; it’s a centuries-old tradition cherished by Britain’s greatest writers, artists, and thinkers. From Romantic poets to Edwardian essayists, many found inspiration in rivers, lakes, and moorland streams.
Here, we explore the wild swimming spots that shaped literary imagination, revealing deep connections between Britain’s freshwater landscapes and its stories. Dive into these magical waters and swim where literary heroes once found inspiration, from moonlit meadows to secluded gorges.
Wild swimming in the Halcyon era: Bloomsbury, boats and bathing
During the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, wild swimming became a widespread cultural phenomenon, immortalised by writers who celebrated the simplicity of life on the water.
1. Grantchester Meadows, River Cam
Rupert Brooke, a Bloomsbury Group poet, often swam naked under the moonlight and commuted to Cambridge by canoe.
Today, it seems little has changed along Grantchester Meadows. On a hot summer day, the languid mile-long stretch of river is dotted with leisurely picnic parties. Punts and canoes glide by, some heading downstream towards Cambridge’s famous Backs, while others head upstream to the tea gardens in Grantchester village. You can hear the occasional splash as punters and picnickers jump into the river to cool off.
2. Clifton Hampden, River Thames
Jerome K. Jerome, author of Three Men in a Boat (1889), frequently spent time on the River Thames, and Clifton Hampden was a particular favourite for his boating trips.
Three Men in a Boat became a manifesto for a simpler way of living with nature – river swimming before breakfast, kippers after and a snooze before lunch.
Today, the long grass and river banks are set against billowing hay fields and the area is a wonderful piece of bucolic tranquillity close to London. A perfect spot for a leisurely literary dip.
3. Hurley Island, River Thames
Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows was inspired by the stretch of the Thames between Hurley and Marlow. It’s a serene, tree-lined ribbon of river dotted with wooded islands and quiet backwaters. It was here that Grahame imagined Ratty’s leisurely swims with the ducks and Toad’s dramatic escapades. The landscape still echoes the dreamy, riverside tranquility captured in the book.
Today, this idyllic section of the Thames is one of the loveliest places to enjoy a swim. Below Marlow, the river is calm and gentle. Grassy banks and sheltered channels are perfect for drifting, paddling, and soaking up the timeless atmosphere that inspired one of Britain’s most beloved stories.
4. Port Meadow, Oxford
This historic meadow is said to be the setting for the famous opening and closing lines of Alice in Wonderland.
Port Meadow is England’s largest and oldest continuous meadow, recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086, and is older than any building in Oxford. Swimming is possible at the northern end of the meadow, under the bridge and beneath the weir. Here, enjoy views of the iconic ‘dreaming spires’ that Lewis Carroll once looked upon. 
Dramatic UK swims that sparked imagination and romance
Romantic poets and children’s authors sought solitude and inspiration in Britain’s dramatic landscapes. Rivers and lakes in Dartmoor, the Lake District, and Exmoor provided the perfect setting for reflection and storytelling.
5. Horseshoe Falls, River Dart, Devon
Charles Kingsley’s The Water Babies (1863) is a tale based both above and below the surface of the River Dart.
6. Peel Island, Coniston Water, Lake District
Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons immortalised Peel Island as “Wildcat Island.”
It’s a short swim out out to the island where you can explore the woods and find the ‘secret harbour’ – two rocky spurs that shelter a tiny bay where Titty landed her boat.
7. Rivers Torridge and Taw, North Devon
Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter is one of Britain’s best loved nature-stories. The author had a deep connection to the river’s Torridge and Taw which were the setting for the story.
After the horrors of the First World War, Henry Williamson arrived in North Devon weary and nervous. Immersion in nature and the rivers became deeply therapeutic; he wrote of feeling “a part of the great stream of life” while floating in the water. His connection to wildlife was equally profound -the “real-life Tarka,” an orphaned otter cub, even took refuge in his cottage.
Swimming, for Williamson, was both refuge and inspiration and these rivers continue to offer such sanctuary to wild swimmers.
Torrington Common offers quiet riverside meadows and gentle currents perfect for swimming, recreating the sense of being part of nature that Williamson cherished.
8. Rydal Beck, Lake District
The area around Rydal Beck was the setting for many of poet Wiliam Wordsworth’s walks, swims and musings. He knew a perfect, secluded pool that he cherished so much he named it after his wife, Mary Hutchinson.
While the pool’s true identity is unknown, Wordsworth described it as “far among the ancient trees”. Perhaps this is Rydal Bower (a magical secret place hidden deep in the woods) or Buckstones Jum (set in open fells with stunning views on the edge of the woodland), but either way, these are both delightful places to swim and inspire Romantic verse.
9. Rob Roy’s bathtub
To the south the national park of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is home to several lochs and waterfalls imbued with Sir Walter Scott’s legends and heroism.
On the river Falloch is Rob Roy’s ‘bathtub’. This is a stunning setting for swimming and picnics with a great shiny black rock vat set beneath the Falls of Falloch. Almost 100 feet across, with steep sides, it is one of the largest plunge pools in Britain and certainly makes an impressive place to take a bath.
Relax here and take in the scenery, picturing the adventures of legends of the Scottish hero Rob Roy.
Modern Icons and Environmental Legacies
Contemporary writers have continued the tradition of wild swimming, often highlighting environmental stewardship alongside adventure.
10. Outney Common, River Waveney
The Waveney was the local river of Roger Deakin, the modern father of wild swimming. His beautiful and seminal book, Waterlog, detailed his journey swimming through Britain by river, lake, and sea.
Outney Common is one of the best places to swim, with excellent riverside access for more than a mile. Deakin paddled his canoe, ‘Cigarette’, along here as part of a Radio 4 documentary exploring the natural history of the river.
Wild Swimming Through Literature
From the Bloomsbury Group’s playful belly-flops to Henry Williamson’s deep communion with nature, Britain’s rivers and lakes have inspired generations of writers. These spots are more than just swimming holes; they are living literary landscapes.
Safety Reminder: When exploring these historic waters, always consult local guides for water quality and safety advice. Check depths before diving, as underwater conditions can change rapidly. Swimmers should stay aware of currents, submerged objects, and seasonal variations to ensure every dip is both inspiring and safe.
Find literary swims and other delightful dips in the latest edition of award winning 'Wild Swimming Britain, 1000 hidden dips in the rivers, lakes and waterfalls of Britain'.