If you’re looking for the best wild swimming spots in England, you’ll find them in the Lake District. With cliff top infinity pools, turquoise swimming holes that wouldn’t look out of place in Bali or Thailand, fairytale gorges, huge mossy canyon waterfalls, and of course remote tarns and lakes, the Lake District is a wild swimmer’s paradise.
We’re sharing a variety of spots, many of which are easy strolls, though a few are harder to access. Although this list contains one or two lakes, it’s more weighted towards my favourite swimming spots, which are generally waterfall pools and gorges!
You can consider this article a work in progress as we have plenty more wild swimming adventures planned!
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the national park, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
The best wild swimming spots in the Lake District
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1: Tongue Pot
2: Whorneyside Force
3: Buttermere Infinity Pool
4: Wasdale Emerald Pool
5: Birks Bridge
6: Scale Force
7: Galleny Force
8: Coniston Coppermines
9: Buckstones Jump
10: Easedale Tarn
11: Gill Force
12: Netherbeck Waterfalls
13: Buttermere Plunge Pools
14: Black Moss Pot
15: Sour Milk Ghyll
16: Wast Water
17: Kail Pot
18. Aira Force
19. Blea Tarn
20: Ritsons Force
1. Tongue Pot, Eskdale
Walk length: 4.3 miles (6.9km) return including Esk Falls
Difficulty: Easy
The Eskdale Valley is wild swimming paradise. There are dozens of pools with crystal clear water, ranging from tropical turquoise to brilliant emerald, and many sit beneath stunning waterfalls to complete the picture perfect scene.
The main and most famous pool is Tongue Pot, which is an absolute beauty and big enough to swim lengths!
The walk to Tongue Pot is easy, there’s very little in the way of elevation gain and the path is generally in good condition.
The only caveat to this is if you want to visit some of the pools before or after Tongue Pot, which require traversing a bit of squelchy bog.
You can read exactly how to reach the pools in our detailed guide to Tongue Pot.
2. Whorneyside Force, Langdale
Walk length: 3.7 miles (6km) return
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Sitting under the shadow of Crinkle Crags, in one of the Lake District’s most spectacular valleys, you’ll find a secluded waterfall.
The setting is dramatic and the crystal clear swimming hole at the base is easily one of my favourite places to take a dip in the Lakes.
The pool is large enough for a proper swim and looking up at the waterfall high above you is an unbeatable feeling.
Although there are several routes to reach Whorneyside Force, we share the easiest way to get there in this guide.
The easy route to the falls is flat for the majority of the way. The path is excellent up until the last couple of hundred metres when it becomes more rustic.
3. Buttermere Infinity Pool
Walk length: 2.6 miles (4.3km) return
Difficulty: Easy
The Buttermere Infinity Pool is an idyllic spot, with crystal clear water and wonderful views over Buttermere. It’s easy to see why it’s risen to fame on social media.
However, venture a little further up the valley and you’ll find a series of other stunning and quieter pools, each one a little different to the last.
Our favourite (besides the infinity pool) is definitely the tiny plunge pool that sits at the bottom of a gorgeous little canyon waterfall.
All pools are more like plunge pools than places for a proper swim, but they’re some of the very best plunge pools in the Lake District.
The walk to reach the infinity pool is easy, but if you choose to climb a little higher to the quieter pools you’ll face some boggy ground.
All the details are in our Buttermere Infinity Pool guide.
4. Wasdale Emerald Pool aka Wasdale Fairy Pools
Walk length: 3.4 miles (5.6km) return
Difficulty: Easy, but not flat
The Wasdale Emerald Pool is not in fact emerald, but turquoise; a colour more often associated with the tropics than the Lake District!
It’s a sensational spot and not just because of its incredible crystal clear water, but also the majestic setting.
The pool is surrounded by the tallest mountains in England, yet nestled within craggy cliff walls, which give it a secluded feel. The small waterfalls which cascade into the pool complete the picture perfect scene. Proof that not all paradise locations involve white sand and palm trees!
The pool is quite small, but you can swim a little bit and it’s a great place to simply relax in the sensational turquoise water.
The walk to reach the pool is not flat, but it’s never steep and the path is generally pretty good.
Directions and everything else you need to know to visit are in our Wasdale Emerald Pool guide.
5. Birks Bridge, Duddon
Walk length: 520m return
Difficulty: Easy
Birks Bridge is an incredible wild swimming spot, with crystal clear emerald water that flows underneath a charming 18th century stone bridge.
Normally I prefer the swimming spots in valleys, far away from roads and bridges, but I have to say that Birks Bridge is something special.
The pool is long and deep and the gorge walls and small waterfall give it a wild vibe, despite the location. It’s hard to believe a spot this beautiful is so easy to reach.
To get into the pool you have to walk over a couple of rocks, but otherwise the walk is smooth sailing.
You can read more in our Birks Bridge guide.
6. Scale Force, Buttermere
Walk length: 4.2 miles (6.8km) return
Difficulty: Moderate
In terms of majesty it has to be one of the most incredible waterfalls in England. It cascades into a narrow mossy chasm and the walls are so high that no light can penetrate. The atmosphere is other worldly.
The pool at the base of the falls might be tiny and very cold, but this could just be the most spectacular ice bath of your life.
Although the walk to reach the waterfall is not too challenging, to get to the upper falls (the most beautiful bit) requires a short scramble. It would be more difficult to get up after heavy rain when water runs down the rock.
You can see pictures of the scramble and find directions in our Scale Force guide.
7. Galleny Force, Borrowdale
Walk length: 1.6 miles (2.8km) return
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming in the crystal clear waters of Galleny Force is what Lake District dreams are made of.
The waterfall is located in a beautiful wooded gorge, which keeps it slightly hidden from the open fells beyond, giving it a lovely secluded feel. It’s no wonder it’s become known as ‘the fairy glen’.
The water is relatively shallow in the main pool, so if you’re wanting a slightly longer swim you can head to the lower gorge pool, which is a little deeper.
The walk to reach Galleny Force is flat and easy, though stony underfoot.
You can read more in our Galleny Force guide.
8. Coniston Coppermines Waterfall
Walk length: 2.2 miles (3.4km) return
Difficulty: Moderate
If you think you need to fly to a far off tropical destination to get your turquoise water fix, think again. You can actually find it just outside the village of Coniston!
We couldn’t believe it either, and yet even when we visited and the waterfall was in shadow, the water was still undeniably turquoise and absolutely exquisite. In the sunshine, it would rival the prettiest turquoise water we’ve seen anywhere in the world. It’s a tiny pool but it has all the wow factor.
The only downside to this spectacular spot is that it’s not the easiest to reach. The walk itself is pretty straightforward, but accessing the pool requires a scramble, which we detail in this guide.
9. Buckstones Jump, Rydal
Walk length: 3.1 miles (5km) loop
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
With glistening blue water and a stunning setting surrounded by endless fells, Buckstones Jump is a real gem. The pool is lovely for short swims and if you’re looking for a bit more of an adrenaline rush you can even slide down the small waterfall!
The walk to reach the pool takes you past several other gorgeous swimming spots, so you could easily spend a whole day waterhole hopping from one idyllic location to another.
You can read more about Buckstones Jump and all the swimming spots along the way in this guide.
10. Easedale Tarn, Grasmere
Walk length: 3.7 miles (6km) loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Easedale Tarn is one of our favourite tarns in the Lakes; the blue water is backed by tall fells, creating a dramatic place to go for a long leisurely swim.
This is one of the best spots on our list to head to if you really want to get the miles in, because this tarn is huge.
Best of all - few people visit, so you often get this fabulous place all to yourself - even in the summer holidays!
The walk to get there is all on a well formed path, but does have a decent amount of uphill ground to cover. Along the way you’ll pass another wild swimming spot, Sour Milk Ghyll, which you can read more about below.
All the details on the walk to Easedale Tarn and what it’s like to swim there are in this guide.
11. Gill Force, Eskdale
Walk length: 1.6 miles (2.6km) return
Difficulty: Easy
Gill Force is a fantastic wild swimming spot located in a secluded woodland gorge. The water is crystal clear and when the occasional shaft of light penetrates the forest canopy it takes on a beautiful emerald hue.
On a hot day the short walk and guaranteed shade are a winning combination.
The walk to Gill Force is one of the easiest on this list, on a well formed path all the way to the pool. Getting into the water does require climbing carefully down the rocky river bank, where you’ll find plenty of footholds.
Once down, you have plenty of room for a good swim in this little woodland paradise.
All the finer details are in our Gill Force guide.
12. Netherbeck Waterfalls, Wasdale
Walk length: 0.7 miles (1.1km) each way
Difficulty: Easy
Nestled in a craggy gorge under the shadow of Scafell Pike lie two spectacular wild swimming spots. To say the setting is something special seems an understatement.
The first spot is a small waterfall which cascades into a secluded emerald pool. The second is a set of four cascades that have near continuous rainbows shimmering in the spray. The fact you’re surrounded by England’s tallest mountains is the icing the cake.
You can swim in the first pool and have a waterfall shower (or four!) in the second.
It’s a magical place to come on a warm summer’s day and though the waterfalls are not the biggest in the Lakes by any means, the vibe is second to none.
The walk to reach both spots is quite easy and though there is some uphill, it’s not very steep. You do need to watch out for boggy ground though. You can read more including the least boggy route to get there in our Netherbeck Waterfalls guide.
13. Buttermere turquoise plunge pools
Walk length: 1.8 miles (2.9km) return
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
It’s hard to think of a more idyllic way to spend an afternoon than dipping in and out of these shimmering turquoise plunge pools, high on the cliffside overlooking Buttermere Lake and the surrounding fells.
It’s a magical spot that feels hidden away from the rest of the world. You can watch all the tiny people heading along the lakeshore below and marvel that you have this even more special spot to yourself.
The pools are tiny, so this is not about swimming, but on a warm sunny day they make for the perfect plunge pools. Oh and did I mention they are infinity pools too?
The walk does have a bit of a climb, but only the very first bit is steep. Once you’re on the cliffside, the path is stony and narrow, with some sections where you are walking on broken slate.
You can read more including how to find the pools in this guide.
14. Black Moss Pot, Borrowdale
Walk length: 4 miles (6.5km) return
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
When it comes to wild swimming in the Lake District, there is no spot more famous than Black Moss Pot. Surrounded by nothing but high fells, Black Moss Pot is a deep gorge pool with a small waterfall and high cliff walls - it’s not hard to see why it’s become so popular.
Added to that you can jump from the cliffs which attracts people looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush.
The pool is big enough for a decent swim and it’s mesmerising to look up at the towering cliff walls above. The walk to reach Black Moss Pot has some elevation gain, but it’s pretty easy overall, though do watch your footing on the stony sections, as it’s the sort of terrain where it’s easy to roll an ankle.
It is easily the busiest spot on this list, so if you’re looking for serenity you need to time your visit very carefully. We cover how to beat the crowds in this guide.
15. Sour Milk Ghyll, Grasmere
Walk length: 2 miles (3.2km) return
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
If you’re looking for the warmest pool in the Lakes (that we’ve found so far!) this is it. The pool is exposed to the sun for a good portion of the day which is why it feels warmer. Though the pool is not very large, so you can’t really swim, it’s perfect for relaxing in the water.
Sour Milk Ghyll has fabulous views over Grasmere and you can climb further up the path to reach more pools, though they are smaller and shallower, so are more about seclusion if you arrive to find the main spot is busy.
The walk to get there is on a good path, but has quite a few stairs to climb. If you keep climbing up the trail you’ll come to Easedale Tarn 1.1km later, where you can go for a really long swim in stunning surrounds.
All the details on both spots are in this guide.
16. Wastwater, Wasdale
Walk length: A few steps
Difficulty: Easy
The deepest lake in England is also one of the most spectacular. I remember the first time I saw it being utterly blown away and that was on a really wet and overcast day. It’s a special place and perfect for long swims in wild surrounds.
Access is easy, you have to walk over a couple of rocks in the water, but it quickly becomes deep enough to swim off.
Although suitable for anyone in the shallower sections around the shoreline, it’s probably best for confident swimmers if you want to head much further out, as it is so deep and there can be pockets of warm and very cold water.
Though there are many places to park to access the lake, we usually go for Over Beck (you can find it on Google Maps by clicking here) where there is a small car park just opposite the water.
17. Kail Pot, Eskdale
Walk length: 1.8 miles (3km) return
Difficulty: Easy
The turquoise pools of Kail Pot look like a Disney creation (but better!). The colour of the water, the silvery rock walls the pools are nestled in and the steep jagged fells all work together to create this magical scene.
I had been swimming for five hours further up river when we came across them and I wasn’t planning on another dip, but who can resist a spot this jaw dropping?
There are two main pools, joined by a small cascade you can climb up, as well as further turquoise pools just up stream.
The pools aren’t huge for swimming, but they are perfect for a dip and somewhere you could happily spend all afternoon on a sunny day, as there are plenty of rock platforms for basking on.
You can read more about the pools, as well as coordinates for finding them in this post.
18. High Cascades, Aira Force
Walk length: 1 mile (1.6km) return from the upper car park
Difficulty: Easy
The secret gorge pool above Aira Force is something special. With mossy cliff walls, a small cascade and deep green water, it's like a woodland fairy's glen. You can't actually see the pool until you've entered the water, so it's completely secluded from the walking trail above. It feels all the more surreal if you've walked up from Aira Force itself, which is usually heaving with people.
The walk to reach the pool is generally quite easy, though there is one slippery rock slab to negotiate to get into the water. There's a second pool which is also fab, just below our favourite spot, which is even easier to access if preferred.
You can read exactly how to find the hidden pools in our Aira Force guide.
Although I’ve written the walk length as if you were going only to this spot, it’s very much worth doing the full loop mentioned in the linked guide, as there are many other fantastic swimming spots along the way.
19. Blea Tarn, Langdale
Walk length: 440m return
Difficulty: Easy
It’s crazy to think a tarn as atmospheric as Blea Tarn is basically right beside a road! You definitely don’t feel that when you’re in there though, it feels as remote as tarns you usually have to walk miles to reach.
The Langdale Pikes are some of the most iconic in the Lake District and you’ll be staring up at them as you swim along the large tarn. Even swimming on a dull grey day couldn’t diminish the beauty of this spot.
Though the walk to reach Blea Tarn barely qualifies as a walk, it’s worth noting the last few metres are really boggy and try as we might, we couldn’t find a way of avoiding it. Best to just take your shoes off and succumb to the squelch before washing it off in the tarn.
Try and access the pool somewhere between the small ‘beach’ on the right side of the tarn, and the first set of rocks.
We accessed it more towards the middle and it’s full of banana skin slippery rocks, which you do not want to be walking over, especially as it’s so shallow at first. Luckily we found the better way to exit the pool, which had virtually no rocks and was very easy.
20. Ritsons Force, Wasdale
Walk length: 0.75 miles (1.2km) return
Difficulty: Easy
Ritson's Force is one of those magical places that makes you instantly grateful to be alive! The electric blue water is crystal clear and flows into a series of picture perfect swimming holes, it’s the stuff dreams are made of.
We’ve spent a large part of the last 18 years travelling around the world and I can honestly say that the water colour at Ritson’s Force is up there with the best I’ve seen.
It’s the most beautiful shade of turquoise, and crystal clear. A truly jaw dropping sight. The pools are all quite small, very much plunge pools rather than swimming spots, but a dreamier place to spend an afternoon dipping in and out of the water would be hard to find.
The fact the walk to reach the pools is ridiculously easy is why I have put Ritsons Force at the very end of the post, to be seen only by those who are really keen : )
All the details on Ritsons Force are here.
Wild swimming safety
None of the spots on this list have any kind of safety measures in place, so you need to know your own limits. Although a few are shallow plunge pools, most will involve deep water. The water in the Lake tends to be cold even in summer, so if you aren’t used to cold water swimming, then go in gently and let yourself adjust. It’s best to start with ones where you can swim to warm up, or go on a hot day when you can warm back up in the sunshine.
Never jump from any of the cliffs without depth checking first.
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