#2 - 'Barefoot' @ Fell Foot, Lake Windermere [Sept 2022]

Fell Foot, Newby Bridge (Lake Windermere)

September 2022

I'd armed myself with a new book: 'Swimming Wild in the Lake District' by Suzanna Cruickshank. And in a surprise bold move decided that one 'lesson' might be enough to try to go it alone (albeit vowing to join more group swims alongside these solo adventures over the coming months).

So...settling on page 91 - 'Fell Foot' (owing to the promise of a 'luxury heated changing room' for a mere £2) I packed my bag and set off. 

I was lucky enough to be armed with a co-swimmer who is a National Trust member. So we parked for free and set off down to the lake. It was busy. Families with inflatable paddle boards.

We passed a cafe (noted for post-swim) and stopped at the Activity Centre for reassurance. We paid the £2 for the changing facilities, received a fair warning about the 'traffic' on the lake, and a light telling off about the fact that neither of us had brought anything bright to highlight our presence in the water.  I felt suitably 'novice'. 

We walked straight past the luxury changing rooms and found a quieter spot beside the overflow car park. Boats everywhere. There would be nothing authentic about this swim.

It was at this point that I realised that I'd forgotten to pack my swim shoes. 

The ground work was both painful and anxiety inducing. Pebbles at first, then slimy rocks for days.  

It took me ages to get in this time. I guess I need the pressure of a larger audience (and footwear). But eventually I was neck high and I could feel the chill stopping at skin deep. 

We had a little swim. There were pockets of warmth here and there. I avoided swimming in the direction of a more remote section of the lake shaded by a tree. Something about shaded water makes my skin crawl. 

When we emerged (a promising 10 minutes later) I changed under my robe again. Grateful for layers and for the (this time fully intact) flask of coffee. Disappointed to have forgotten to kick start the 'always-bring-a-baked-good-to-a-swimming-session' tradition. Mildly clawed back some food satisfaction at the cafe (having walked straight past the luxury heated changing rooms for a second time) when I ordered the 'curried cauliflower pasty'. Granted, not a popular choice. 

I've decided that I'll write a kit list from now on. 

Water shoes will feature at the very top of the list.