Walberswick, Suffolk 28th-30th July

Luckily since I'm still hobbling the campsite was quite close to the water just the other side of the sand dune.

JJ

Swyre, Friday 27 July 2012, 5pm

Every swim is good... but this one was breathtakingly so. A twenty minute walk through fields and reed-beds brought us to a nearly deserted beach. Glorious views, perfect weather. The water was clear, calm and clean (and free of jellyfish). After a cooling swim the shingle was hot and smooth. Couldn't be better. No wonder this is KH's favourite beach.

SW

Portland, wed 25th July 2012, 3pm

Church Ope Cove, more ideal swimming in clear, warm water...

SW

Yesterday, 24th July 2012

We are all horrified to hear of the landslide at Freshwater yesterday, and our thoughts are very much with the family of Charlotte Blackman, as well as those who were injured.

The Swimmer as Hero

Scolt Head Island 24th July

Arriving at the little harbour of Burnham Overy Staithe I felt the extreme bad temper caused by an injured ankle and too much time spent indoors melting away. Hobbling down to the marshy creek close to the ice cream van there are people basking in the sunshine despite the slightly fettered smell and kids covered head to toe in marsh mud climbing and sliding up and down the banks. We walk up the creek half in the water half on the muddy flats in the vague direction of the sea. People gradually thin out and we can only see other groups of ones twos tramping out in the same direction. As the tide is going out you could definitely swim or canoe out to the island. Once on the island (really it looks like a massive sand dune) there is some further walking/hobbling to the sea. Which is incredibly warm and clear not that deep but we float around and then bake on our own sand bank like seals. This is how summer is supposed to be! Because it is in every weekend supplements best beach guide recently+ school holidays there were quite a lot of people but it still felt empty and isolated. The added bonus of swimming in the creek I think makes it one of my favourite swims.
JJ

Cogden, Tuesday 24th July, 4pm and Hampstead Ladies Pond, 5pm

Enough beautiful beach shots recently - here are some sculptures which have appeared behind the beach, looking striking against a brilliant blue sky. A great sociable swim, for humans and dogs, thanks to C and J for the post swim melon. A few more jellyfish but all were avoided with ease.

SW

Hampstead Heath, 5pm MG

A long, lazy afternoon on the roasting hot heath, followed by a gentle plop into the ridiculously warm ponds. Absolute bliss. They're jam-packed but I can't resent it - it's just so good to see people using this incredible London treat.

Cogden, Monday 23rd July 2012

I still cant get over how blue the sky is... another hot and calm day. The sea is really warming up now. A beautiful swim at exceedingly quiet Cogden, marred only by the first appearance of a lone jellyfish - looks like a Compass Jellyfish which do sting but it wasn't very big.

SW