Crook O' Lune Swimming Guide
We tagged along with Project Cold on their group visit to Crook O' Lune for a cold water dip, and to see how our new ladies swimwear range fared out in the wild.
Wild Swimming at Crook O Lune: Everything You Need to Know
New to wild swimming?
As far as wild swimming locations go, Crook O' Lune is a beginner friendly starting point; even better if you can tag along with a local swimming group like Project Cold.
Swimming in the cold natural waters does take some bravery to do for the first time. We asked the ladies in the group why they got involved, and what it means to them.
Check out our beginner's guide to wild swimming if you want to learn more about how to get started.
Beth
Where Is Crook O' Lune?
Crook O Lune is North East of Lancaster, or East of Morecambe, which is also reasonably close by. It's a bridge under which the River Lune flows, and has a great entry point for some wild swimming.
You can get there just off the M6, so it's easily accessible and a spot worth visiting for any avid wild swimmers that live up north. (Lancaster's also a great place to enjoy a day out afterwards!).
Parking wise, there's a car park really close to the entry point which will cost you £1 for the day, so there's no time spent on long walks trying to find obscure swimming spots.
Swimming in the River Lune
Before getting in the water, the group mentally prepared with some breath work on the river bank to help calm any anticipatory nerves, then slowly entered the river. (Keep in mind, the access point to the river is a little bit stony, so it's worth bringing a pair of clogs or water shoes for the approach.)
As the River Lune is constantly flowing, there'll always be a current on your swim, so be mindful not to drift off too far from the shore. Flowing water means it's also likely to be on the colder side, even in warm weather. On our visit, the water level was low enough to reveal a small little island to break up the swim with some very welcome sun to warm up in.
What to Wear Swimming at Crook O’ Lune
A lot of wild swimming spots are hidden along walking routes, so for those, it's more important to bring a backpack full of essentials and more gear (you can check out our guide on what to wear wild swimming for more details on what to bring for those).
For Crook O' Lune, with the entry point to the water being so close to the car park and a local café, it's easier to warm up after your dip, so you can pack lighter.
Our visit was towards the end of spring, so normal swimwear like swimsuits and bikinis were fine. If you prefer things on the colder side (whether that means going in the early hours of the morning, or in the colder months of the year) you'd be better off with a wetsuit.
Drying Off & Warming Up
It was time to warm up after the dip, some of the group decided to do some tai chi to get their body moving and raise their temperature back up. There's also a café nearby, so you can warm up from the inside too.
As for getting changed out of the wet swimwear, changing robes are a cold water swimming essential. There are a few walking trails popular with dog walkers and runners nearby, so whilst secluded, it's not a totally private area to get changed in without a robe.
