It’s Christmas time and it is the season to wrap up warm, eat mince pies and spend time with friends and family in front of cosy fires or is it? Perhaps this year you could ring the changes and celebrate the festive period by joining in at the many of Christmas swims & festive dips taking place over Christmas Day, Boxing day & New Years’ Day. One of the most well known swims on Christmas Day is the Peter Pan Cup held each year the in The Serpentine lake in London but unless you are a member you are only able to spectate.
So whether it is the raise money, have fun or just blow away the cobwebs a winter dip is a wonderful antidote to all the excesses of the festive period and celebrate the party atmosphere. To help you choose, we have picked (in no particular order) a few swims that are happening around the country if you would like to take part, check out our list below.......Merry Christmas & have a Happy New Year!!
Christmas Day Swims & Festive Dips
1. Eastbourne, Sussex - White Christmas Dip
Dublin, Ireland - Dublin Christmas Day Swim
River Tay, Scotland - Scotland Chistmas Day Swim
London – Hampstead Ponds - London Christmas Day Swim
Bude, Cornwall - Cornwall Christmas Day Swim
Saundersfoot, South Wales - Wales New Years Day Swim
Llandudno, North Wales Boxing Day Dip -The Llandudno boxing day dip takes place next to St George's Hotel, on the lifeboat slip, at 11.30am.
Whitby, North Yorkshire - Yorkshire Christmas Day Swim
Clacton, Essex Christmas Dip, not an official event, but if you turn up at the beach in Clacton and follow those dress up in fancy dress, you are sure to find some fellow dippers. The dip is at 10am, so make sure you get there about 15 minutes beforehand, to make sure you don’t miss the dash!
Belfast, Northern Ireland - Ireland Christmas Day Swim
Christmas Day Swim Safety
Please note that although it can be great fun taking part in a winter dip there are a few precautions you should take...
- Make sure you don’t swim alone and if possible join in with an established group such as the ones listed above.
- Know your limits and don’t stay in too long, especially if you are not used to it. This may sound obvious, but once the body starts to cool, you can often not feel the cold, so think you are OK, when in fact the cold could already be negatively affecting you.
- Ensure you have plenty of warm layers to put on after your swim. It is worth taking a bag to put your clothes in, so they don’t get wet whilst you are dipping.
- It also a good idea to have a warm drink / food after your swim.
- Have fun, but keep safe!
