When it's hot our minds naturally gravitate towards cooling off in large bodies of water. A paddling pool in the garden is OK but for an actual swim, you'll need to travel. A few lengths of your municipal, indoor swimming pool are fine but it's not exactly taking advantage of the weather.
When the sun shows you want to do it in style and God's Own Country – it being both wet and the biggest county in Britain by a long way – has plenty of places for that purpose. Read more: The best free and cheap things to do in the Yorkshire Dales We normally publish separate guides for wild swimming and outdoor pools but since your aim is the same (i.e.
a proper splash outdoors) we've done this neat all-in-one guide. We haven't included beaches because we've already written about 4,627 articles on that subject and sea swimming is a different kettle of fish. So here we have the best places for an outdoor swim in Yorkshire from free splash to need some cash.
Swimming in nature is usually free but some sites are on private land and there may be a charge for entry. You will need to exercise some caution because wild swimming carries risks. The water will most likely be cold, even in the height of summer, and there will no lifeguard.
Rocks and tangled weeds may be hidden below the surface. You may have to contend with currents, rising water levels and poisonous blue-green algae. This is a picturesque rocky pool in the River Wharfe, in the Yorkshire Dales , with a small island and rapids upst.