Summering

There’s something about summer in England that makes me want to be outside as much as possible. Not necessarily doing anything particularly ambitious, just finding reasons to get out of the house, put my feet on the ground and spend a little more time in the natural world.

This summer, I’ve fallen in love with river swimming.

I’ve recently discovered Farleigh & District Swimming Club, tucked away on the River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford.

Founded in 1933, it’s believed to be the oldest surviving river swimming club in the country, and it still feels wonderfully unpolished and slightly wild.

You simply rock up, park in a field, throw on your bikini and walk barefoot down to the river.

There’s a little changing hut, a grassy riverside meadow and a stretch of deep, cool water above the weir. Nothing fancy. Just trees, birdsong and the occasional flash of iridescent blue and green as damselflies skim the water.

I’ve been going whenever I can. There’s something about stepping into cool river water on a warm day that feels almost ridiculously good. Although there is always that moment beforehand when I’m standing at the edge thinking, this is going to be cold. I’ve learnt not to think about it for too long. Just keep walking!

Once you’re in, it’s glorious.

There’s something about being immersed in cold water that cuts through all the noise. You can arrive with a head full of thoughts and, within a few minutes, you’re thinking about nothing much beyond your breathing, the river moving past you and the wonderful feeling of your body moving through the water.

And afterwards, when you’re back on dry land, there’s that feeling of having done something very simple but completely restorative. Your skin tingles, your body feels awake and somehow the whole world seems a little clearer.

There’s a little circular walk nearby too, taking you over the river and through the surrounding countryside, so you can easily make a morning or afternoon of it if you fancy something more than just a swim. It’s not a complicated hike, just another excuse to slow down and look around a bit.

It’s also reminded me how little we sometimes need to make a day feel good. A flask, a couple of sandwiches, a good book and a towel and that’s pretty much it.

Which feels particularly welcome in a summer when the temperatures have made us all a little more aware of the weather and the changing climate around us.

The simple pleasures of walking, swimming, sitting outside and making do with what’s already around us start to feel even more valuable.

Perhaps that’s one of the things I’m taking from this summer; that a good life doesn’t always need more. Sometimes it’s about noticing what’s already there.

Nothing particularly complicated, just a reminder that sometimes the best adventures are the ones that are close to home.

Maybe sustainability doesn’t always have to feel like another thing on the list of things we should be doing better. Perhaps sometimes it’s about paying attention to what we already have, valuing it, and making choices that help keep it there.

The simple things, especially.

A river you can swim in. A field you can park in. A footpath through the trees. A summer evening spent outside with wet hair and bare feet. Good food, sunshine and long summer evenings spent with the people we love.

For now, I’ll be making the most of the river every opportunity I can.

See you in the water.