https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog Plain guides to swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea. en-gb https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/uk-sea-temperature-by-month https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/uk-sea-temperature-by-month Why the UK sea is coldest in spring and warmest in late summer and early autumn, why it trails the air, and why it's cold water most of the year. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/river-water-quality-sewage https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/river-water-quality-sewage How river bathing waters are tested and rated, why storm overflows matter after heavy rain, and how to check a UK river before you swim. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/reservoirs-and-quarries https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/reservoirs-and-quarries Why most reservoirs ban swimming, what makes flooded quarries risky, and how managed open water venues in former quarries do things differently. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/lifeguards-flags-and-designated-areas https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/lifeguards-flags-and-designated-areas What the RNLI's beach flags mean, why lifeguard hours matter, and how designated swim areas and session times at managed venues change the picture. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/tidal-rivers https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/tidal-rivers How the tide pushes up a river and changes its flow, why you shouldn't swim in a tidal river you can't swim against, and how to check the tide. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/blue-green-algae https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/blue-green-algae What blue-green algae looks like, when blooms happen, the risks to you and your dog, how to check before a swim and who to report it to in the UK. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/locks-gates-and-bridges https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/locks-gates-and-bridges Why locks, gates and bridges need care, what the Canal & River Trust and Environment Agency say about swimming near them, and why jumping is risky. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/small-shallow-lakes https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/small-shallow-lakes Small, shallow lakes warm up faster than big, deep ones. Why that happens, why they're linked to blue-green algae, and how to deal with weed. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/swimming-against-the-tide https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/swimming-against-the-tide Could you swim against the tide if you had to? Why even a yes calls for caution, and how to plan a sea swim around the tide. Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/who-to-call-open-water-emergency https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/who-to-call-open-water-emergency In the UK, call 999 or 112: the Coastguard at the coast, Fire and Rescue inland. What they'll ask, how to give your location, and what to do with no signal. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/river-swimming-after-rain https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/river-swimming-after-rain Why heavy rain in the last 36 hours is a reason for caution: faster flow, hidden debris and a higher chance of pollution in UK rivers. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/open-water-swimming-kit-list https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/open-water-swimming-kit-list The open water kit list, the four essentials, and the habit that gets you warm faster: laying it out in the order you'll put it back on. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/reading-a-tide-table https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/reading-a-tide-table High and low water, springs and neaps, chart datum, and what a tide table can't tell you. How to read one before a sea swim in the UK. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/lake-inlets-and-outlets https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/lake-inlets-and-outlets Where water enters a lake it can be colder. Where it leaves, it can pull. What to check for inlets and outlets, and how to swim around dams and spillways. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/panic-in-open-water https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/panic-in-open-water Why panic hits in open water, in-for-three, out-for-six breathing, and how turning onto your back to float gives you time to get your breath back. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/why-deep-lakes-stay-cold https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/why-deep-lakes-stay-cold A warm top layer can sit on cold water all summer. How lakes stratify, how to size up a lake, and what it means for your swim. Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/weirs https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/weirs What a weir is, how the current below one can hold a swimmer under, why it's so hard to judge from the bank, and why you should never swim near one. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/rip-currents https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/rip-currents What rip currents are, where they form, how to spot one from the beach, and the RNLI's advice on what to do if one takes you. Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/hypothermia-signs https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/hypothermia-signs How hypothermia shows up in open water swimmers, why you keep cooling after you get out, how to warm up properly, and when to call 999. Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/eat-drink-sleep-before-swimming https://www.wildopenwater.com/blog/eat-drink-sleep-before-swimming When you last ate, drank and slept, and how stressed you feel: four quick questions before a swim, and what current guidance says about each. Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT