This photo story is not from a walk or a visit anywhere. It is made up of photos I have taken on my phone over the last year on my cold water swimming outings. Most have been enjoyed, and the occasional one endured but each one has been like having a front row seat at a seascape gallery.
On a very unseasonably hot October day in 2021, myself and 2 girlfriends sat drinking beer outside a pub in Marazion and one of us suggested that maybe we should try this cold water swimming malarkey. Interestingly, all of us had been thinking the very same thing. We had all heard about the widely reported benefits of such activities and had also noticed so many more women were gathering to swim in the blue, inviting Cornish waters. After a couple of pints and before any of us could change our minds, we made a plan to go for a sunrise swim at Gylly Beach the very next day.
It would be fair to say by the following morning the Dutch courage had worn off and nervously we journeyed to Falmouth at first light. By the time we arrived on the beach the day had begun and an eerie mist hovered above the sea and cliffs. Gingerly we took the plunge, slowly, slowly immersing ourselves and acclimatising. I think it took about 5 minutes for the swearing to stop and then steadily the enjoyment built up. I think the moment we were hooked was when the 3 of us, bobbing like seals, watched the sun climb above the clouds and illuminated the mist. It was a magical and ethereal experience that we will never forget.
We managed two further swims before we stopped for the winter. We hadn’t built up much resistance to the colder conditions by starting so late, but we were sure that we would do it again once Cornwall began warming up in the spring.
On a very unseasonably hot October day in 2021, myself and 2 girlfriends sat drinking beer outside a pub in Marazion and one of us suggested that maybe we should try this cold water swimming malarkey. Interestingly, all of us had been thinking the very same thing. We had all heard about the widely reported benefits of such activities and had also noticed so many more women were gathering to swim in the blue, inviting Cornish waters. After a couple of pints and before any of us could change our minds, we made a plan to go for a sunrise swim at Gylly Beach the very next day.
It would be fair to say by the following morning the Dutch courage had worn off and nervously we journeyed to Falmouth at first light. By the time we arrived on the beach the day had begun and an eerie mist hovered above the sea and cliffs. Gingerly we took the plunge, slowly, slowly immersing ourselves and acclimatising. I think it took about 5 minutes for the swearing to stop and then steadily the enjoyment built up. I think the moment we were hooked was when the 3 of us, bobbing like seals, watched the sun climb above the clouds and illuminated the mist. It was a magical and ethereal experience that we will never forget.
We managed two further swims before we stopped for the winter. We hadn’t built up much resistance to the colder conditions by starting so late, but we were sure that we would do it again once Cornwall began warming up in the spring.
Fast forward to November 2022 and we have enjoyed a wonderful 7 months of swimming together and added another convert to our little group. I have certainly felt the physical benefits of the cold water but, possibly even more importantly, enjoying the beauty of nature while socialising with good friends has been hugely beneficial for the general wellbeing of us all. I am not sure how much longer we will swim for; the conditions in the water will soon get beyond our levels of tolerance and capabilities. However I do know we will all come back next year and do it again!
