Waterside Adventures

Water shapes some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes. Discover waterfall walks, wild swimming spots, paddleboarding routes, kayaking adventures, lakeside walks and coastal trails across the UK. From hidden waterfalls and peaceful rivers to dramatic coastlines and mountain lakes, explore inspiring places with practical advice, route ideas and expert navigation tips to help you enjoy the outdoors safely and confidently.

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Waterfalls in the Lake District

August 4, 2026
10 min read

Explore breath-taking waterfalls in the Lake District, perfect for outdoor lovers seeking unique beauty, wild swims or scenic hikes.

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Best UK Islands for Paddleboarding

July 10, 2026
7 min read

Which are the best islands for SUP in the uk? If you're planning to holiday in the UK this year - why not try one of these stunning paddle friendly islands

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Nazmine Maguire and Dexter at Watergrove reservoir

Watergrove Reservoir Circular Walk in the Pennines

April 9, 2026
2 min read

OS Champion Naz Maguire shares her favourite dog walk around Watergrove Reservoir in the beautiful Pennines.

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Paddleboarding in East London: London Limehouse Loop

April 7, 2026
5 min read

Try paddleboarding in East London with a unique urban route that showcases street art and natural beauty along the canals.

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Anu Aladin with friends and her paddleboard by a canal bridge covered in graffiti

How Paddleboarding Changed My Life

March 23, 2026
7 min read

Read this inspiring personal story of how paddleboarding helped Anu Aladin regain control after navigating a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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Dog Friendly Walks in the Lake District

March 20, 2026
8 min read

Discover the best dog friendly walks in the Lake District with ten easy routes, clear dog‑friendly tips, safe water access and OS Maps links for stress‑free days out.

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Paddleboarding in London - Anu Aladin with Graffiti behind

Is Paddle Boarding in London Easy?

February 18, 2026
7 min read

Think paddleboarding using public transport in the biggest city in the UK is difficult? Anu Aladin of My SUP Stories is here to bust some of those myths

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Natasha Sones by the water with a float

Outdoor Swimming in London – Historic Lidos, Docks and Ponds

February 12, 2026
10 min read

Outdoor swimming in London. Find your ideal London wild swimming location, historic lidos, docks and wild swimming ponds in the heart of the city

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The Best Apps for Wild Swimming

February 9, 2026
5 min read

Explore the best wild swimming apps recommended by wild swimming expert Natasha Sones, find top swim spots and stay safe during your adventures.

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Waterfalls in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)

January 16, 2026
9 min read

Discover breath-taking waterfalls in Bannau Brycheiniog, featuring beautiful locations for families, wild swimming, hiking and photography.

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Aber Falls - Waterfall in Eryri

Waterfalls in Eryri (Snowdonia)

January 8, 2026
9 min read

Uncover the beauty of Eryri's (Snowdonia) waterfalls, with locations for families, wild swimming, photography, and adventurous hikes.

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Fairbrook Falls

Waterfalls in the Peak District

December 23, 2025
10 min read

Explore a range of Peak District waterfalls, perfect for families, wild swimming, scenic photography, and tranquil nature walks.

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The Cascade, Virginia Water

Where are the Best Waterfalls near London?

December 16, 2025
11 min read

Explore stunning waterfalls near London and find the perfect walk just a short drive or train ride away from the city.

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Top Tips for Festive Dips

December 15, 2025
4 min read

Rowan Clarke from Outdoor Swimmer magazine explores Christmas and New Year dipping – and how to join in safely.

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The Best British Islands for Foodies

December 5, 2025
6 min read

Explore the best British islands for foodies and indulge in unique culinary adventures from sea to plate.

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Island82 – A Challenge with Purpose

December 5, 2025
3 min read

Discover Island82, a challenge by Lisa Drewe to explore Britain’s 82 largest islands. Get your version of the map that inspired the challenge!

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Falls of Falloch, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Stunning Waterfalls in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

December 5, 2025
6 min read

Explore the best and most stunning waterfalls in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and uncover the beauty of the National Park's landscapes.

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Tigers Clough Waterfall near to Manchester

Where are the Best Waterfalls near Manchester?

December 4, 2025
12 min read

Find the best waterfalls close to Manchester with scenic walks in beautiful surroundings.

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Rowan in st anthony's well in the magical forest of dean

Winter Wild Swimming: How to find mid-winter magic in the water

November 21, 2025
6 min read

Discover the magic of winter wild swimming. Explore blue spaces, health benefits, safety tips, and the spiritual side of cold-water.

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Natasha Sones diving into the water

Water Pollution Risk for Wild Swimmers in the UK

October 24, 2025
6 min read

Expert advice from Outdoor Swimmer Magazine on water pollution risk for wild swimmers and how to swim safely using real-time data and hygiene tips.

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adventures on the water

Book Review: Adventures on the Water by Jo Moseley

October 17, 2025
3 min read

Join Jo Moseley in her new book Adventures on the Water as she shares heartfelt stories highlighting the impact of paddleboarding on lives.

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A List of Women’s Adventure & Hiking Groups to Join in the UK

September 18, 2025
2 min read

A list of UK female only adventure and hiking groups - the best place to start to build outdoor confidence.

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Lake District Walking Book Vivienne Crow

Looking for the best Lake District Walks? Meet Outdoor Expert Vivienne Crow

September 16, 2025
10 min read

Vivienne shares the inspiration behind her new book Outstanding Walks: Lake District, featuring 60 of the best Lake District hiking routes

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Hidden beaches of Britain - Seilebost Beach, Isle of Harris

Hidden Beaches of Britain

September 4, 2025
7 min read

Our curated collection of secluded bays and lesser-known beaches offers the perfect alternative to the usual hotspots.

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Rhossili Bay and Worms Head, Wales

10 Stunning Beaches in Wales

August 26, 2025
8 min read

Home to over 500 beaches, 21 of which have been awarded Blue Flag status, and 157 miles of coastline protected by the National Trust, Wales is an ideal location for a breath of fresh, sea air.

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Lake district lakes - Buttermere

The 16 Lakes of the Lake District – Ranked by Popularity

August 20, 2025
4 min read

Discover the 16 stunning lakes of the Lake District ranked by popularity. Explore each lake’s depth, size, hiking routes, OS Maps links, and fascinating facts to plan your next outdoor adventure.

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Wild Swimming in Devon

Cove-hopping & Wild Swimming in Devon

August 15, 2025
5 min read

Explore 7 secret wild swimming coves in Devon on these two fabulous cove-hopping coastal path walks

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Loughrigg Fell, Lake District

Best Autumn Walks in the Lake District

August 12, 2025
9 min read

Autumn in the Lake District is a feast for the eyes. An array of reds, yellows and oranges span the horizon and cover the ground. Here are some of the best autumn walks to be enjoyed in the Lake District this season.

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How to start wild swimming

How To Start Wild Swimming

August 5, 2025
3 min read

Find out how to start wild swimming safely with advice from wild swimming author and OS Champion Natasha Sones

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10 Picturesque Paddle Boarding Routes in London and The South East

June 10, 2025
7 min read

Paddleboarding expert Lisa Drewe shares 10 Paddleboarding routes in London and the South East from her new book! (all easily accessible by train)

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Lake District Horseshoe Hikes

March 4, 2025
5 min read

3 of the best Lake District Horseshoe Hikes - learn about these beautiful walks and why horseshoes routes are more challenging!

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North western Fells Walks Lake District

3 Winter Wainwright Hikes: Lake District North Western Fells

January 28, 2025
6 min read

Lake District North Western Fells Walks - a short walk, a medium walk and a long walk - great ideas for a hiking weekend in the Lakes!

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Get to the Gym v Get Outside

December 10, 2024
2 min read

Why you should bin the gym and get outside instead if you want to boost your mental and physical wellbeing this winter

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A Cornish Coast Adventure with the NEW Suunto Race S

December 4, 2024
3 min read

Holly Atyeo reviews the Suunto Race S on a Cornish Coastal Adventure - find the route map and what she thought of this exciting new performance watch

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waterfall walks north wales

Exploring Waterfalls with the Suunto Race S

November 26, 2024
5 min read

Lisa explores a beautiful waterfall route in North Wales while reviewing the new Suunto Race S GPS watch.

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Runswick Bay - Charlotte Graham Photography 

8 Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in England, Scotland and Wales

November 13, 2024
9 min read

8 Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in the UK! We share beautiful locations hand picked by SUP Expert Jo Moseley with top launch and safety tips

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Suunto Race S Review Lake District Molly Veitch

Hiking in the Lake District with the NEW Suunto Race S

October 28, 2024
5 min read

First time user of a GPS watch Molly Veitch reviews this popular new performance watch on her latest hike up Coniston Old Man

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Wild Swimming & Paddling Adventures by Train

October 23, 2024
7 min read

Wild Swimming & Paddling by Train! Fi Derby shares her advice on getting outside for adventures by train wherever you are in the UK

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wild swimming by a waterfall

Wild Swimming Safety – Keep safe whilst wild swimming

October 10, 2024
7 min read

Wild Swimming Safety - Are you worried about trying wild swimming? Learn how to keep safe when wild wild swimming with our OS Champions

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A wee dook, wild swim and Beach clean with Gee Jackson and Red Changing Robe

A ‘Wee Dook’ – Eco Adventuring with OS Champion Gee Jackson

October 8, 2024
4 min read

Join OS Champion Gee Jackson as takes this brand new changing robe through it's paces in her Red Equipment Pro Change EVO review

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Suunto Race S Wild Swimming in llyn Padarn with Elizabeth Asad

Open Water Swimming in Llyn Padarn with the Suunto S Race Watch

September 25, 2024
3 min read

Oen water swimming in Llyn Padarn with the Suunto Race S - OS Champion Liz Asad puts this waterproof smart watch to the test!

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Embracing Eco-Adventure: Sustainable Outdoor Pursuits in the UK

August 14, 2024
4 min read

Ordnance Survey Champion Isaac Kenyon will be exploring what an eco-adventure is, share best practices for eco-friendly outings, highlight destinations that prioritise sustainability, and offer tips for reducing your environmental footprint while exploring the great outdoors in the UK.

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Ullswater Paddleboarding launching sites - Lake District Paddle Boarding

Lake District Paddle Boarding: 15 great spots to launch

August 13, 2024
13 min read

Lake District Paddle Boarding - Where to launch a paddle board in the lake district. Expert paddler Jo Moseley shares 20 great spots to launch a paddle board in the Lake District

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Paddle Boarding Tips – A beginner’s guide to stand-up paddle boarding

July 2, 2024
6 min read

Looking for Paddle Boarding Tips? Read our complete beginners guide to SUP and SUP Essentials for safety on rivers, lakes and by the sea

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Frog Graham Round

October 16, 2023
8 min read

The Frog Graham is a swim-run challenge involving over 40 miles of running over Lake District fells and swimming two miles across Bassenthwaite Lake, Crummock Water, Buttermere and Derwentwater. OS Champion Alex Staniforth tells us about the route and his experience of the Frog Graham Round.

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Best places to paddleboard in the South West

August 25, 2023
6 min read

OS Champion, Lisa Drewe, reveals her favourite wild places to paddleboard in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset.

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How to get into triathlon

August 8, 2023
8 min read

OS Champion Sam Taylor-Frost is part of the GB Triathlon Team. She completed her first triathlon without being super fit or spending a lot of money on kit and you can do the same. Find out how to get into triathlon and give this multi-sport event a go.

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Top secret waterfalls in Scotland for wild swimming

May 4, 2023
6 min read

Kimberley Grant, author of Wild Guide Scotland, reveals her top 5 favourite hidden waterfalls in Scotland for wild swimming. From the deep pool at Feshiebridge to the river at Glen Etive, we have your next trip to the Scotland covered.

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The benefits of cold water swimming

January 23, 2023
8 min read

We share all the MANY benefits of cold water swimming. Experts tell us why this activity has hooked people across the nation and offer advice for those wanting to give it ago.

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Goring and Pangbourne, River Thames, Berkshire

Top Secret Wild Swimming Spots Near London

November 30, 2022
5 min read

Daniel Start, author of the Wild Guide to the Lakes and Dales, reveals his top 6 favourite hidden places to go wild swimming in the Lake District. From the emerald pool at tongue pot to plunge pools at Ullswater, we have your next trip to the lakes covered.

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10 best paddling routes

November 9, 2022
11 min read

British Canoeing share their best paddle routes across the UK that you must try. These recommended paddle trails can be found on OS Maps, making it easier to navigate and plan your next on-the-water adventure.

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Best fishing spots in Britain

September 23, 2022
4 min read

Eight million people in England and Wales live within five minutes’ walk of somewhere to go fishing. We take a look at some of the best fishing spots near you and offer some advice on how to enjoy them year round.

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Beginner’s guide to fishing

August 2, 2022
6 min read

Try fishing once and you’re sure to be hooked. It’s about so much more than catching a fish. Unwinding in the great outdoors is a big part of the attraction. This beginner's guide to fishing will help you give it ago and enjoy time by the water with family and friends.

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5 of the best places to walk and swim

July 29, 2022
4 min read

​​​What could be better than walking to your favourite wild swimming spot, taking a refreshing dip and drying off on your walk back. This new fitness craze will see you exploring new places while staying fit and healthy throughout the summer. Here are some of our favourite wild swim walks.

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Leicester Windsurfing and SUP club

The Big Paddle Cleanup

July 19, 2022
6 min read

British Canoeing tell us all about their Big Paddle Cleanup, a week-long campaign where paddlers up and down the country took to the water to collect rubbish. What did they find? This article reveals all.

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Snuff Mills Waterfall Bristol

10 Best Waterfall Walks

October 22, 2021
9 min read

Waterfalls are a great place to visit for a leisurely stroll and we're lucky enough to have many across Great Britain. Find waterfall walks near you including details of each route. Our OS Champions share with us 10 of their favourites.

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Best British locations for surfing

August 16, 2021
6 min read

One of the many benefits of living on an island is the sea! Here are seven of our favourite surf spots in Britain for you to take to the waves.

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Wild Swimming For Beginners

A beginner’s guide to wild swimming

April 29, 2021
4 min read

We explore why open-water swimming, also known as wild swimming, is so good for us and get some top tips from Olympian and Sports Scientist Greg Whyte OBE to help you take your first dip.

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Hydrotherapy

May 16, 2020
10 min read

GetOutside Champion Laura made the film Hydrotherapy in the depths of last winter about why she swims all year round for her health. She explains why she is passionate about her latest project swimming 15 of the UK’s National Parks to test for microplastics and why she thinks we should all make the most of every day.

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5 UK Beaches for your Bank Holiday Staycation

April 20, 2018
5 min read

A staycation is the perfect opportunity to kick back and relax for a few days. If you’re dreaming of escaping to coastal views and brilliant surf, the great news is that you may not have to venture very far. Here are our favourite beaches across the UK.

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8 Epic Lake District walks you need to do

July 30, 2017
5 min read

It’s no secret that the Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in England with some epic walks to boot. Walker and cyclist Jamie Knop has listed eight of the most epic Lake District walks you need to tick off your bucket list.

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Three Short Walks in the Lake District

June 4, 2017
10 min read

The Lake District National Park is the largest National Park in Britain. Famed throughout the world for its stunning landscapes, sprawling fells and beautiful waterways, it has inspired poets, writers and artists alike for almost three centuries.

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Top 5 Beaches to Visit in Scotland

May 18, 2017
4 min read

Top 5 beaches to visit in Scotland: Co-author of the new Wild Guide Scotland, Richard Gaston, shares his top 5 Scottish beaches.

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Tongue Pot Upper Eskdale swimming

Top secret wild swimming holes in the Lake District

May 31, 2016
5 min read

Daniel Start, author of the Wild Guide to the Lakes and Dales, reveals his top 6 favourite hidden places to go wild swimming in the Lake District. From the emerald pool at tongue pot to plunge pools at Ullswater, we have your next trip to the lakes covered.

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Paddle Boarding through Britain’s Canals

May 12, 2016
3 min read

Lizzie Carr was the first person to paddle board the length of Britain's canals. Find out more about the route she took and learn how to find more SUP, kayak and canoe routes in OS Maps.

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Wild swimming in the yorkshire dales

April 26, 2016
3 min read

Discover more about Wild Swimming and try some of the best spots in England with Lizzie Carr.

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A beginner’s guide to triathlon

October 4, 2015
6 min read

The triathlon is a tough but rewarding event and there's plenty of choice in distances. Whether your aiming to tackle major miles or take on a shorter challenge, this beginner's guide to the triathlon will help you work towards your first triathlon.

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A beginner’s guide to open sea swimming

August 20, 2015
4 min read

A brilliant guide to get you swimming in open water. These top tips from Heather Scoot (a novice open water swim competitor) will really help you whether your getting in shape, staying in shape or preparing for a competition.

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How to find fossils on the beach

A Beginner’s Guide to Fossil Hunting

July 23, 2015
5 min read

This beginner's guide to fossil hunting takes a look at the best places to find fossils in the UK and explains how and when to find them. Get some advice from a professional and find out what you need to start searching for fossils near you.