YOUR FAVOURITES MAGNIFICENTSEVEN
For 2012, Kate Rew picks seven beautiful wild swims from some of the world’s best swimming destinations.
Alpsee, Bavaria, Germany
ALPSEE, BAVARIA, GERMANY Germans know their wild swimming: lake houses, nude bathing and ice swimming are all popular pastimes. Alpsee is a beautiful lake in the Ostallgäu area of Bavaria, close to Füssen. Alpsee is made special by its surroundings – wooded mountain slopes, and romantic castles built by 19th Century Bavarian kings. In the summer it’s a haven, with beach houses and a sea-café. While public bathing places are doted along the B308 on the east side of the lake there are more-private places to swim (nude, if you like) in the series of litle bays around the shore. “The swimming area has changing and shower facilities and a duckboard stretching out to mid-lake, to avoid the mud and silt that lies beneath. The water is as clear as the Med!” say Nicholas Grinyer. Alpsee is 2km from end to end, and 5km if you circled the shore, but beware boats and pedalos. Hiking trails surround the lake, which will help you find the best swim.
OTIVAR, GRANADA, ANDALUSIA, SPAIN Andalusia is famed for its lovely walks but its countless natural water sources and all year-round warm climate make it an ideal destination for swimming. One big fan is ex-pat Fiona Flores Watson. She says: “Some prefer to wear a wetsuit to keep warm in icy freshwater lakes while others skinny dip – Andalusia caters well for naturists. It’s an idea to take a snorkel, too, as there’s an abundance of aquatic life. The entire region is doted with lakes and reservoirs, criss-crossed with rivers and of course is skirted by a long coastline.”
Oli Pit recommends a river gorge near Otivar that has a series of pools. See
wildswim.com/otivar for directions. “The track there is just about driveable,” says Pit. “Then there’s
a walk up to a series of pools and streams to a large pool with a bridge over the gorge and a viewing point.”
KAIKOURA, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND With hundreds of lakes, thousands of rivers and 15,000 kilometres of coastline, swimming is an integral part of New Zealand life. From polar streams to azure river pools and big coastal open water swims, there is plenty on offer – including some spectacular, conscience-free swimming with seals and dolphins. New Zealand was ahead of most other nations in creating marine reserves that aim to maintain and restore biodiversity, and is commited to safeguarding the creatures you swim with (boat operators are strictly limited, and you cannot feed the dolphins and seals). Try it at Picton or Kaikoura, where you may see whales. "If you
Otivar, Granada, Andalusia, Spain 40
feel really brave then swimming with the dolphins in Kaikoura is a litle intimidating – it’s cold and oceanic,” says local swimmer Mark Newdick.
Photo © Oliver Pit
Photo © Luigi Viggiano
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