-
Jan 15, 2025 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
Last week saw temperatures plummet to minus figures across the UK. And for winter swimmers that can only mean one thing. It’s time to break out the ice axe!Thank you for sharing your icy dips with us on Facebook – we loved seeing the mighty shards of ice, crazy costumes and stunning winter sunrises. We’ve compiled some of our favourites below. Want to know how winter swimmers warm up after an icy dip? Check out our readers’ winter swimming rituals.
-
Dec 10, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
“I’m up against someone who has climbed Everest 18 times, so… I’m a bit baffled?!”That was editor Ella’s bewildered response when she shared the news with the Outdoor Swimmer team that she’d been nominated ‘Outdoor Personality of the Year’ for The Great Outdoors Reader Awards 2025.
-
Dec 5, 2024 | 
gathered.how | Abigail Whyte
The adorable Stacey Solomon is back on our screens this festive season with her Crafty Christmas special. She'll be joined by friends and family to create a new batch of ingenious homemade gifts and decorations that she hopes will bring festive joy without breaking the bank. Stacey Solomon's Crafty Christmas airs on the 18th December at 9pm. The show will be repeated on 22nd December at 12am and on Christmas Day at 1.50am.
-
Dec 5, 2024 | 
gathered.how | Abigail Whyte
Easels at the ready! Budding artists can brush up on their painting techniques with Sky Arts new series Artist of the Year: Masterclass, launching this month. The new series will demonstrate easy-to-learn techniques for budding artists at home, including how to paint trees, landscape composition and the Alla Prima technique. A host of artists who took part in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year or Landscape Artist of the Year will be leading the live tutorials.
-
Dec 2, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
Close encounters with seals, dolphins and the Royal Navy: Jason Mann shares the story of an adventurous band of Plymouth long-distance swimmersAn adventurous band of Plymouth swimmers are making waves with their ocean exploits. You'll need to subscribe to unlock this content. Already subscribed? Login? Abi writes swimming news stories and features for the Outdoor Swimmer website and manages the social media channels.
-
Nov 28, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
If you’re looking for a breathtaking day out, the Fairy Pools in Skye are an absolute must – but don’t go if you’re in a rush! We visited on a sunny day in August 2024, and after a few days of rain, the pools were crystal clear and inviting. Surprisingly, the road was quiet as we arrived at the Forestry Commission Car Park around 10.30am, though signs of heavy traffic were clear. For £6, you get parking and access to toilets before setting off on the well-marked path to the pools.
-
Nov 27, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
As December approaches, many swimmers start wondering how to juggle Christmas indulgences with training. Swim Smooth coach Paul Newsome shares some insights. As December approaches, many swimmers start wondering how to juggle holiday indulgences with trainingYou'll need to subscribe to unlock this content. Already subscribed? Login? Abi writes swimming news stories and features for the Outdoor Swimmer website and manages the social media channels.
-
Nov 12, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
That there’s nothing more peaceful than just floating on the water, tuning out of the busy world and into the gurgling and bubbling sounds of the water. Not a care in the world. The illustration is available to buy as a Christmas card on my website. I started my outdoor swimming journey in 2012 having been inspired by the London Olympics. Over the next few years I did lots of events and challenges before being lured by my surroundings in the water rather than pace or distance.
-
Nov 4, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
“Our message is as clear as the chalk streams of yesterday…” said naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham on the podium in front of a 15,000-strong crowd in Parliament Square. And the message certainly was clear on 3 November 2024 when over 100 organisations, from Surfers Against Sewage to the Angling Trust, came together for a common cause – to call on the government to tackle the devastating pollution that has marred our rivers and seas in recent years.
-
Oct 31, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Abigail Whyte
I started working as digital editor for Outdoor Swimmer in August 2022. Prior to this, my experience as an outdoor swimmer was more of the dipping kind, and usually within the summer months. Joining a team of swimmers who it do all year round and take part in all sorts of challenges was intimidating to say the least. The thing is, the more I settled into my role, the more I found the idea of open water events rather tantalising. I started to wonder what the fuss was all about.
