Clacton Beach named in list of UK’s best wild swimming spots
Looking at the water quality, average sea temperature, popularity, and wind speed, outdoor experts at GO Outdoors named the best places to go wild swimming in the UK.
Their study also looked at the best places to paddleboard, surf and kayak as well as the best water sports attraction in the UK.
The best places to wild swim in the UK
|
Rank |
Location |
Country |
Max sea temperature |
Water quality /3 |
Average annual sunshine hours |
Average annual number of rainy days |
Mean wind speed (m/s) per 10m |
Total Google searches (Jun 2023-May 2024) |
Wild swimming score out of 10 |
|
1 |
Portland Harbour |
England |
19.4°C |
3 |
1,665 |
167 |
7.52 |
1,130 |
9.94 |
|
2 |
Clacton Beach |
England |
22.5°C |
2 |
1,611 |
155 |
6.87 |
1,690 |
9.76 |
|
3 |
Bracelet Bay |
Wales |
20.0°C |
3 |
1,583 |
200 |
6.65 |
490 |
9.48 |
|
3 |
Clevedon Beach |
England |
21.6°C |
2 |
1,631 |
184 |
6.51 |
220 |
9.48 |
|
5 |
Ringstead Bay |
England |
19.6°C |
3 |
1,640 |
177 |
7.04 |
0 |
9.39 |
|
6 |
Bembridge Beach |
England |
21.1°C |
2 |
1,699 |
152 |
6.51 |
0 |
9.14 |
|
7 |
Lake Windermere |
England |
20.0°C |
3 |
1,580 |
218 |
5.55 |
10,770 |
9.08 |
|
8 |
Charmouth Beach |
England |
20.1°C |
3 |
1,545 |
176 |
7.22 |
170 |
8.95 |
|
9 |
Holywell Bay |
England |
18.7°C |
3 |
1,502 |
199 |
7.55 |
1,440 |
8.92 |
|
10 |
Penarth Beach |
Wales |
21.0°C |
2 |
1,583 |
192 |
6.07 |
670 |
8.68 |
Located in Dorset, Portland Harbour tops the list as the best spot for wild swimming in Britain with an impressive score of 9.94 out of 10. Known for its natural beauty and breathtaking views of the marina, Portland Harbour is a popular destination for open-water swimmers.
You can also expect an average of 1,665 hours of glorious sunshine during the year, as well as excellent water quality (three out of three), offering a refreshing swim in clear waters and a picturesque setting.
Clacton Beach follows behind, scoring 9.76 out of 10. The well-known beach is situated to the west of Clacton Pier, a popular tourist attraction that is said to be one of Europe’s biggest pleasure piers. Due to its sandy beach and gentle slope into the sea, it is also a great spot for swimmers.
With one of the highest maximum sea temperatures, 22.5°C in July, and an average of 1,611 annual sunshine hours, Clacton Beach offers a more pleasurable wild swimming experience.
With a score of 9.48 out of 10, Bracelet Bay ranks third for wild swimming. With an excellent rating for bathing waters, Bracelet Bay is a good spot for swimmers. As it is the first small limestone bay after the vast expanse of Swansea Bay, it is advised to be careful of rocks when swimming here. A lifeguard is also always at hand during the peak summer months.
The study also found that
The study also found that:
- Borth Beach in Wales is the UK’s best kayaking destination
- Nae Limits in Scotland is the best place for water sports activities
- Surfing is the UK’s most popular water sport.
