One of my best adventure pals and I booked a weekend of wild mountain swimming in Snowdonia with Vivienne Rickman back in the spring. Way before lido season even began, we knew we’d need something to look forward to in the autumn, when swimming in nature takes on a different vibe. It’s moodier and definitely […]
Happy Birthday Barefoot Em! 1-year-old today
Today marks the first anniversary of Barefoot-em.com and a lot has changed in just 12 short months. When I look back at all the incredible places I’ve swum and things I’ve seen – a lido wedding, a dip in the Atlantic and photo session in an Edwardian bath house, just to name a few – […]
Swimming in the rain: Nantwich Outdoor Brine Pool
It may have been raining in Cheshire on the summer’s day I happened to be in the vicinity of Nantwich Outdoor Brine Pool, but nothing was going to dampen my enthusiasm for a dip in this historic spot. This was only further fueled by the passion that was exhibited by the manager as he showed […]
Guide to lockers at the UK’s historic swimming pools and lidos
After a mishap with a new pound coin in a locker that didn’t accept them, I decided to create this handy quick reference guide to the lockers in many beloved swimming pools across the UK. Here’s what you need to know about locking your stuff away before you visit: Arundel Lido – lockers cost £1 […]
Swimming against a castle backdrop: Cirencester Open Air Pool
If you’re going to swim in a lido then you might as well do it in style and Cirencester Open Air Pool has heaps of it. Not only does its heritage date back to 1869, but this unique swimming spot has a backdrop that’s hard to beat – a picture-perfect castle complete with crenelations, which […]
Taking the plunge: Ilkley Lido swim + lido wedding
It was officially the height of summer – June 21st – when I headed to Ilkley Lido for a nice and sunny swim. Despite it being the longest day of the year and one with the sun high in the sky, the water temperature was 16.4 degrees C and the air temperature 18.9 degrees C, […]
