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Say Bye to Lanes and Go Wild: 12 Destinations for Open Water Swimming in and near Manchester
There’s something absolutely wicked about pushing your limits out in the open water instead of swimming pools. You don’t have to stay in your lane, there’s no chlorine, and swimming doesn’t seem to end.
Some may say it’s bollocks to go wild swimming, but it keeps you fit as a fiddle and it brings a sense of adventure you can’t get anywhere else. The water’s cold and deep and you’re not surrounded by white walls!
If you’re ready for the next stage in your swimming adventures, here are our favourite spots for open-water swimming that aren’t too far from Manchester! Dive in! Oh wait, acclimate right in!
Best Places for Open Water Swimming in and Around Manchester
Salford Quays
Media credit: thequaysmcr
Location: The Quays, Salford
Distance from Manchester: 3.5 miles, 15 – 20-minute drive from the city centre
Swimming Season: Depending on the authorised supervisor companies
Salford Quays is one of the most accessible open-water swimming spots in Greater Manchester. There’s no need to drive far from the city and it’s actually safe! It even surrounds The Quays shopping mall, so it feels very urban!
Do note that you’re only permitted to swim through authorised supervisors, such as USwim and Salford Watersports Centre. The former’s base is at Dock 9, while the latter is at Dock 8. Plus, they offer quite a bit of activities.
The supervision is all for safety, so it’s no bother. There’s a risk of cold water shock and other potential hazards at Salford Quay, so having supervision will keep you on the safe side, especially if you’re a newbie to open-water swimming!
| Pro Tip: Book a coaching session if it’s your first time swimming in open water in Manchester. That way, you’ll learn safe techniques swimming in cold water. |
Sale Water Park
Media credit: openswimuk
Location: Rifle Road, Sale
Distance from Manchester: 6.8 miles, 25-minute drive from the city centre
Operating Hours: Depending on the authorised supervisor company
Another brilliant spot for supervised open-water swimming is located only on the southern side of Manchester. Sale Water Park has top-notch views and is no hassle to visit due to the water sports services, restaurants, and free car park.
The safest way to swim is through Open Swim UK, which offers services from April to September and October to March. Open swim is available for kids, adults, and families—everyone’s welcome!
All sorts of classes and courses are on the cards, whether it’s your first time in open water or you’re a seasoned swimmer. Everything’s all sorted here, basically.
| Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on the free open water workshop and swim for kids to ensure they know water safety. There’s only a handful of slots, though. |
The Farm Club
Media credit: the.farm.club
Location: Mere View Farm, Park Ln, Pickmere, Knutsford
Distance from Manchester: 21.1 miles, 52 to 57-minute drive from the city centre
Swim Season:
- Open Water Swim: April – September
- Winter Swim: October – March
You can’t top a safe environment where newbies and seasoned swimmers can enjoy the open water. At The Farm Club in Cheshire, you’re all good to go, literally!
With accommodation, a cafe, a fitness club, swim classes, and a stunning 300-acre countryside, you have everything you need for a relaxing experience! For a smashing and safe time, book a breathwork and cold water session.
This venue is absolutely spot on! You’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are ready to connect with nature, whether on dry land or out in the lake. All the activities are designed to let you enjoy the fresh air for some proper peaceful time.
If you’re a beginner, there’s an introduction class to cold water swimming. While you might feel you don’t need it, you actually do because it’s very informative.
| Pro Tip: Book your activities online ahead of time because slots are limited. |
Pennington Flash
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Location: St Helens Rd, Leigh
Distance from Manchester: 20.5 miles, 50-minute drive from the city centre
Operating Hours: Depending on the swimming service
Pennington Flash is a buzzing place for open water swimming, with a lake stretching to 70 hectares. After all, it’s where the Ironman UK swim course is.
But we’re no Ironman, so safe and secure time in the water is where it’s at! My Open Water Swim and Swim Pennington (a NOWCA member) offers easy access and open water swimming on a section of the lake.
You can book swim courses from 500 m to 1.9 km, depending on the company. The venue is pretty ace, too, since there are loads of parking spots—very handy after an hour’s drive from Manchester!
| Pro Tip: If you have a NOWCA membership, book a registered venue so your time in the water will be tracked. Swim Pennington is now a NOWCA venue. |
Boundary Water Park
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Location: London Rd, Allostock, Crewe
Distance from Manchester: 25.2 miles, 50-minute drive from the city centre
Operating Hours: Depending on the swim service
Located in the Cheshire countryside, Boundary Water Park is a spot for families seeking a bit of fun. It’s a lake surrounded by the forest, with a couple of paved and unpaved trails for all sorts of adventures.
The lake steals the spotlight here. You can book a supervised open water swim session with USwim for individuals and families.
Swim times vary per season, which may also depend on the current conditions of the water and the weather. While you can usually pop in for a swim, we suggest booking your session online to avoid disappointment.
| Pro Tip: Bring cash for payments. If you need to rent equipment, you need to pay it in cash. |
Wild Shore Delamere
Media credit: wildshoredelamere
Location: Lake Holiday & Sailing Park, Chester Rd, Delamere, Northwich
Distance from Manchester: 34.7 miles, 53-minute drive from the city centre
Hours:
- Wednesday: 3 pm – 6 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 12 pm
- Sunday: 3 pm – 6 pm
A safe and secure spot for open water swimming is Wild Shore Delamere, an aquapark that provides a controlled environment. There’s staff supervision from the shore, making you feel at ease while you’re out in the water.
Since this is a secure spot, there’s a schedule for swimming. But there’s a loop you can follow, available in 200 m, 350 m, and 550 m laps—plus, there’s a safety SUP cover!
All in all, this is the destination for newbies. Swimming here also requires booking your schedule first instead of just popping in.
As a floating playground, there are loads of other activities to do, such as wakeboarding, paddleboarding, and finishing the Aqua Chimp obstacles!
| Pro Tip: This place is busy, so arrive early and consider the time for parking. At least 45 minutes to an hour is ideal. |
Gaddings Dam
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Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire
Distance from Manchester: 24.7 miles, 1-hour drive from the city centre
Operating Hours: 24/7
Gaddings Dam, an old mill pond, is considered England’s highest beach, although it’s not exactly the highest place above sea level. It only sits 350 m above sea level—other lakes in the UK are higher.
Its history is quite interesting, having been bought by the Gaddings Dam Preservation Company for £1,500 in 2001! Nowadays, it’s well-enjoyed by the locals who want to take a dip in the water and its sandy beach. Quite a brilliant place for a bit of a hush!
This hidden gem requires a short but a bit of a steep walk since there’s no road access for vehicles. You’ll come across a couple of little streams with a bunch of easy pathways.
Once you do reach it, it feels like the middle of nowhere, but it’s as peaceful as a Sunday afternoon.
| Pro Tip: The walk to Gaddings Dam is quite remote. Don’t forget to pack food, water, and extra clothing—you don’t want your walk back to be all wet! |
Manley Mere
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Location: Manley Ln, Frodsham
Distance from Manchester: 40.7 miles, 1 hour and a 10-minute drive from the city centre
Swim Times:
- Thursday: 11:30 am – 1 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 9:45 am – 11 am
The 40-acre lake of Manley Mere is a fab spot for supervised open water swimming and watersports activities. It’s a proper destination for every bloke who enjoys an adventure or two in the water.
Open swimmers can paddle through 250m, 500m and 750m courses. Individual swimming is permitted, as well as for groups of 10—time to bring your mates?
Watersports are also brilliant here, such as kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and boat sailing. There’s also an ace inflatable aqua park, offering a very fun time for kids and adults who enjoy larking about!
| Pro Tip: Consider a NOWCA membership for cheaper rates and spontaneous swims since there’s no need to pre-book a session! |
Lake District
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Location: Lake District National Park
Distance from Manchester: 71.6 miles, 1 hour and a 30-minute drive from the city centre
Operating Hours: Based on the information centres
One of the best places for open water swimming is Lake District because there are loads of lakes available for open water swimming. It’s located in Lake District National Park, a World Heritage Site and the largest national park in England!
Some of the popular lakes for wild swimming are Windermere, the largest lake in England, Ullswater, known for its crystal-clear water, Conistons Water, popular for its absolutely stunning backdrop, and Derwentwater, known as the “Queen of the Lakes.”
However, you should know that these lakes are usually buzzing with visitors. There are loads of locals and tourists, so they’re the busier spots for swimming. In peak seasons, they can become madhouses!
Quieter lakes are Bassentwaite, Grasmere, and Buttermere. Actually, there are a bunch more spots for swimming in Lake District since it’s a massive place. Check them out here, but be wary of motorboats in some areas.
| Pro Tips: Lake District swimming is unsupervised. Before going for a dip, make sure you’re wearing a wetsuit and check the conditions of the water. Join swimming events or coaching sessions to avoid swimming alone. |
Loughrigg Tarn
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Location: Ambleside
Distance from Manchester: 88.7 miles, 2-hour drive from the city centre
Operating Hours: 24/7
Loughrigg Tarn is a not-so-scary open water swimming spot near Manchester. It’s a small lake, so it’s right up your street if you’re a beginner. The stunning background goes absolutely nuts when the sky’s not covered in clouds!
The water’s not too cold, as there are no rivers that feed water into it. Although it’s still cold, it’s not as bad as other lakes for wild swimming.
And when you’re in the middle of the tarn, you won’t go bonkers because it’s not scarily massive. No strong gushing of water will take you somewhere else, but still be careful when swimming because the area’s relatively remote.
| Pro Tip: Bring a floatation device because some areas get deep! |
Open Water Swimming Events in Manchester
Greater Manchester Swim!
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When: Annually, around May
Where: MediaCityUK – Dock 9, Salford Quays, Salford
The annual Greater Manchester Swim! It’s held at Salford Quays, where chaps and gals are welcome to join in! It has varying distances, from 500 m to 3 mi.
Even beginners can pop in as long as you register. The 500 m course is more of a “participation swim,” where there won’t be chip timings because it’s designed to give newbies a bit of experience in open water swimming competitions.
| Pro Tip: Don’t forget to register to join and purchase your own swim cap. And remember to eat a laden breakfast, even if you’re swimming the shortest distance. |
Greater Manchester Festival of Open Water Swimming
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When: Annually, around August
Where: Sale Waterpark, Rifle Rd, Sale
Splash around at the annual Greater Manchester Festival of Open Water Swimming, where newbies and seasoned swimmers can join! The event has 400 m to 5 km courses for all skill and fitness levels.
The 400 m is a junior race for under-15s, while the 5 km is for the pros (and it has a 2-hour cut-off time). If you’re one of the first three finishers, you get a medal!
Safety Tips for Open Water Swimming in Manchester
Open water swimming is a sport not to be taken lightly. You should always be prepared because the water poses several risks and challenges.
Here are things you should consider before plunging in:
- Research the swimming area. Check if the water is safe to swim in and look at the potential hazards, like water odours and colours, riptides, strong currents, and cold temperatures.
- Check the place and look for safety signs. Is it safe to go in?
- Look for safe entry and exit points to know where to go.
- Do not swim alone. Swim with a friend or join a group/class.
- Swim near the shore and avoid deep, open areas. In case you feel like you cannot swim further, you can get out of the water fast.
- Wear the proper swimming equipment. A wetsuit will help keep you warm and provide extra buoyancy, and a brightly coloured swim cap will increase your visibility.
- Acclimate your body. Open water swimming in Manchester is cold, so avoid jumping in the water quickly to avoid cold water shock.
- Know your body’s limits. If the water’s too cold, don’t go in. If you feel you cannot swim further, go back to the shore. Look out for cold water shock symptoms, like chest pain and rapid breathing.
Equipment You Need for Open Water Swimming in Manchester
The right gear is important in open water swimming. You can’t just pop in wearing your pants because you need to keep warm and have better flexibility.
Here’s a checklist of the essentials you need for wild swimming:
| Open Water Swimming Equipment Checklist | |
