Planning your Stay

If, like us, you love the euphoric rush of wild swimming and bathing in natural river pools, then we don’t think you will find a better place in the UK than Eskdale and the surrounding hills. We are spoilt for choice.

GUIDED WILD SWIMS. To make the most of your wild swimming and to explore the best spots safely, we strongly recommend that you use the services of a professional guide. We are pleased to recommend Suzanna Swims. Alternatively, for swims in the south lakes and some of the larger lakes outside of Eskdale area we recommend Wild Swims.

Here is a list of some of our favourite spots:

• River Esk – simply pop out of the garden gate, cross our meadow and you have the River Esk. There are some lovely shallow pools to paddle and play in.
• Trough House Bridge – walk across our meadow and up the river a little way and you’ll find the deep pools below Trough House Bridge. This is a famous spot. As the drop down from our land is very steep near the bridge, we recommend that you either paddle across the river down stream and then walk up the far bank or walk along the road – it’s only a 10 minute walk, out of our gate, up the valley road, first right and follow the little lane signposted to the campsite.
• St Catherine’s Church & Girders Bridge – a 10 minute walk from Eskdale Retreat is St Catherine’s Church and the famous Eskdale stepping stones. About 200 metres upstream is a lovely bathing pool, just downstream from Girders Bridge.
• Blea Tarn. Cross the lane outside the house just opposite Stanley House and cross the railway and head up the “Zig Zag” path to Blea Tarn. We love this place, especially at sunrise and sunset. It’s a steep walk up but only takes about 15 to 30 mins (depending on fitness!).
• Whillan Beck Plunge Pool – near the 17th Century packhorse bridge is the waterfall plunge pool of the Whillan Beck near the Eskdale Corn Mill.
• Harter Fell – lots of spots including Eel Tarn, Stoney Tarn, Blea Tarn and Burnmoor Tarn.
• Devoke Water – this lovely tarn is hardly visited but is a great for a swim.
• Tongue Pot – perhaps the most famous of Eskdale’s wild swimming spots. Hike (or cycle or drive!) up the valley to the foot of Hardknott pass. Just before the road starts to climb steeply, by the red telephone box, follow the foot path up past Brotherilkeld. Follow the river all the way up to Lingcove Beck Bridge. A couple of hundred metres downstream of the bridge is the large swimming pool of Tongue Pot.
• Lingcove Beck – a little further up from Tongue Pot and beyond Lingcove Beck bridge there is a cave you can swim in with a waterfall running into it. 
• Waterfalls – we are spoilt for choice with Stanley Force, Birker Force, Cam Spout and Stanley Ghyll

SAFETY. Wild swimming does not have lifeguards and you swim at your own risk so: Be safe, be aware, be sensible and be responsible. To stay safe, never swim alone. Cold water will dramatically decrease your range at first, count on being able to swim a tenth of the distance you can in a warm pool, so practise in a safe zone and increase your range slowly. If it’s your first time swimming in cold water, enter the water gradually to see how your body reacts – beware of ‘cold shock’ which can bring on hyperventilation. Only experienced wild swimmers should swim in the more challenging river spots, lakes and tarns. Swim shoes are advisable and a wetsuit is a good idea if you don’t like the cold water. When you get out, it can take longer than you think to warm up, so have plenty of clothing ready, and ideally head straight off on another walk or run.