Want to try wild Swimming with Kids?

Wild Swimming. It is up there as one of the fastest rising hobbies out there, having surged in popularity during the darkest depths of the claustrophobic lockdown years, and one that’s kept it’s fins and swum ever since!

Wild Swimming in the Yorkshire Dales? Well we bloomin’ love it. Yup, point us in the direction of your nearest Yorkshire waterfall and we’ll be there faster than you can say ‘Dry Robe’!! And whilst my youngest is a fair weather swimmer (ooooh don’t we all know when he’s cold…) my eldest has dipped her toes into the cold water season, when she dipped last year until the end of October.

It’s fair to say that in terms of Wild Swimming, we have all developed a fair bit since originally writing this blog back in 2022, which is exactly why I head back every Summer to update it with all of our wild swimming with kids top tips!

Wild Swimming in the Yorkshire Dales

Across the Yorkshire Dales there are lots of popular wild swimming spots, but when you are with the kids….. well I feel like it kinda changes the game a little bit!

But, there are so many mahoosive benefits that come from wild swimming, that the hassle is TOTALLY outweighed by the fun of it all. Ranging from the endorphin boost, to the physical improvement in circulation and alertness, to helping develop a child’s awareness of water safety and assessment of risk. Plus….. well it’s just bloody great isn’t it?!

Now, we are not in a MILLION YEARS going to profess to be experts in Wild Swimming. But over the years, we’ve learned a few handy bits and bobs including the fact that a walk with the promise of a swim, seems to be one of the best whinge-busting motivations EVER! (I just won’t mention the walk back….)

So here are some of our favourite kid friendly wild swim spots and some of our top tips too!

For more in depth and definitely more expert advice than me, then do check out the Wild Swimming website, which is brimming with tips and safety advice and also the water safety advice from the Royal Life Saving Society too about swimming in wild water. A great Facebook page is North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue too, who share regular tips for being safe in wild water during the Summer.

One last thing. These photos are all taken after periods of dry weather, where the water levels are low and currents are not strong.

Phew. Now I can sleep soundly at night!

Best Wild Swimming spots for Kids in the Yorkshire Dales

I will start off with a reminder that these are some of our favourite wild swimming spots for KIDS! And whilst some will offer a full swim opportunity for the grown ups, some will offer a ‘shallow end of the pool’ style dip.

Don’t worry, I’ll tell you which is which!

Janet’s Foss

Malham, Southern Yorkshire Dales National Park

I’ll start with the most obvious, and the busiest. I hate busy-ness, but I love Janet’s Foss for a swim, so you can see the quandary I’m in!

But it is an absolutely epic spot for kids. Why?

Well, firstly Janet is the Queen of the Fairies….. so for kids, this spot really is a real life fairy tale. The water is turquoise and crystal clear (when it is untouched) and this is pretty rare for the Dales! The woodland around it in the sunshine creates dappled light that twinkles on the water. There is a waterfall, and a cave behind it (where Janet lives) and above it too …. and well, it is as good as it sounds.

It’s not mega deep on an average day (although deep enough for an adult swim) the currents are mild to non existent, and yeah. It’s great. (Be aware that currents will of course change with the level of rain and Janet can be feisty after torrential rain!)

Which is why it is heaving!

Yup. Sadly, although Janet’s Foss is named as a ‘secret waterfall’ or ‘hidden gem’ by some, the secret is well and truly out. So in all honesty, it’s unlikely you will get a swim here alone.

But do not let it put you off! Get there early in the morning for the best experience. Not like 10am, but EARLY early. At that time, the water is not all smooshed up by the day swimmers and paddlers, and it is peaceful. Chilly mind, but you’re more likely to be almost alone then.

OR in the evening, preferably out of a school holiday. You will probably get more cloudy water (just from the sediment that’s been stirred up throughout the day) but it will be quieter.

So yeah. Janet is ace! You can find out how to walk here on our Janet’s Foss page, just tap the link!

West Burton Falls, Wensleydale

Eastern Yorkshire Dales National Park

The village of West Burton is so lucky! It has an awesome set of falls! Just imagine having this swim spot 5 minutes from your front door…. because it really is that easy to access from the centre of the village.

The upper falls, Cauldron Falls, are a beautiful cascade into a deep shady plunge pool and you can walk right up to the edge of the waterfall itself (or swim obviously- although mind not to get too close due to currents with kids!)

The lower is more of a rocky tumble into the pool. Both are a great swim and paddle!

In the shot above is the lower pool, which you can see is shallow enough to paddle at one end, then it deepens as it gets to the drop of the lower falls and to the cave visible in the shot behind the rope swing.

In average conditions, the pools are a great sheltered spot for a kid friendly swim as well as the grown ups too with minimal currents to content with., however it’s not called Cauldron Falls for nothing, as after heavy rain, the pool turns into a boiling mass of Yorkshire Tea water!

Find out how to get here by reading our West Burton Falls walk (where you can also see the difference in the falls after heavy rain!). You can either head there straight from the village, or take a wander first!

Catrigg Force

Stainforth, South Yorkshire Dales National Park

This one is another popular spot on a sunny day, so be prepared. You may not be alone! It is well worth it though, and it is great for an adult swim too. It is also far FAR quieter than its cousin Stainforth Foss, which is heaving on a sunny day. Probably on account of the fact that you have to walk a decent way uphill to get there.

The plunge pool at Catrigg Force is fairly deep, so most children will be out of their depth, but there are rocks around the edge to perch on, and there are shallower spots for a paddle too. Just bear this in mind for the less confident swimmers.

Also, the rocks around the falls are remarkably slippery. Like some of the slipperiest ever, so water shoes are a must!

Other than that, this super shady spot is perfect on a sunny day (or any day for that matter) and with it being a nice enclosed pool, there are minimal currents to contend with (again, like the others, you visit having heavy rainfall).

The details of the walk to the falls can be found on our Catrigg Force page

Buckden Beck Waterfalls

Central/ Eastern Yorkshire Dales National Park

Now this place is awesome.

The plunge pool underneath one of the waterfalls on Buckden Beck in Upper Wharfedale is shallow, but just about deep enough for an adult swim. Only just though, as the water is about adult waist height.

But this does make it a top pool for a younger swimmer! The pool is surrounded by a ledge that’s perfect to sit on to acclimatise yourself to the water temperature, with the centre being out of depth for my (at the time of the pictures) 6 year old. Another great kid friendly factor is that it is small. Which means on a sunny day, it warms up a bit more, and you are never far from the edge.

A point to note is that it isn’t surrounded by a large area of land so there isn’t much space to sit and another heads up is that the path to the larger falls (pictured) has got some steep drops. But never fear! Because lower down the falls, there are plenty of other paddle and splash spots!

Find out how to walk to these falls on our Buckden Beck Falls page.

!! The path continues up the gorge, but whilst this is marked on a map, any falls past this last one are not suitable for children as they require scrambling. There are some unguarded drops to the largest waterfall (pictured). This waterfall is located on Open Access Land.

The River Wharfe at Kettlewell

Central/ Eastern Yorkshire Dales National Park

Kettlewell is one of our favourite spots in the Yorkshire Dales and the river there is a marvellous spot for a paddle or dip. Now this is our only river spot on our top 5 so be aware that there are currents present to contend with.

But the reason why we love this one, is because there is a lovely shallow section, with varying river depths at the point where Kettlewell Beck meets the River (it’s the spot behind the car park, and the Racehorses Hotel). What 3 Words is following.spinners.myself.

The river here is mainly paddling territory, but there is some depth for younger swimmers to swim. It’s not deep enough for an adult swim (unless you want to scrape your knees!) BUT. There is a spot just a teeny bit upstream (and I mean like 10 metres) where the water is deep enough for an adult swim. So that’s why we love Kettlewell for a family swim, as it has OPTIONS!

Plus is has ice cream and a park! If you want to know more kid friendly details about visiting Kettlewell, take a look at our Visit Kettlewell with Kids guide.

Cotter Force

Central Yorkshire Dales

This little gem of a waterfall is one for the whole family!

It is easily accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs (to the view point, a clamber over the rocks is required to get to the plunge pool) and it has a super shady plunge pool in front that’s deep enough to swim in, with plenty of paddle spots around the edges too!

With a walk of less than 1km to get there too, it’s perfect for younger paddlers with their grown up wild swimmers!

You can find out more about the walk to Cotter Force by heading to our walk page!

(The rocks around Cotter Force can be slippery so care should be taken)

Keeping safe whilst wild swimming with the kids

I’m a MUM! So of course I won’t let you get away without Mumming you first!

BE CAREFUL! Wild swimming is fun, but it is not without risks. Oh no.

So here are the safety bits. Specifically Wild Swimming with kids safety bits. And as I’ve already said, we are not proclaiming to be experts, just enthusiasts, so head to the links at the top of the blog for the real expert safety advice.

Check out the Royal Life Saving Society’s Summer Safety Campaign

We are super proud that we were selected to partner up with the RLSS for their 2024 Summer Safety campaign as part of Drowning Prevention Week and there really is no other authority better qualified to consult on all water safety issues.

But this is YOUR responsibility as a parent to speak to your kids about water safety, because it really can be a matter of life or death and something as simple as a conversation or a game can help your little ones (or not so little ones) know what to do should they find themselves in an emergency situation.

Here are the key messages:

STOP AND THINK: Take a moment out before the kids enter the water to discuss what potential risks there are. In rivers, waterfalls and open water, we are thinking of things like fallen trees, branches, discarded fishing line, currents, submerged rocks, water temperature and differences in water levels for example.

STAY TOGETHER: Go with friends and family, because it’s more fun!

CALL 999 or 112: Ask for Fire and Rescue for rivers, and open water and Coastguard for sea. NEVER, NEVER enter the water to help somebody in distress. This feels like a totally heartless thing to do, but a person in distress in the water will try and grab onto you, which could also lead to you into danger.

What you can do is call the emergency services and tell the person in distress to float on their back. You can also throw them anything inflatable or an emergency ring to hug to their chests, possibly something to pull them back to shore, but only if there’s no risk of you being pulled in too. Keep talking to them and keep reassuring them that help is on the way.

FLOAT TO LIVE: If you read anything, it’s this one. Many drownings occur when people never intended to be in the water in the first place. If this happens, flip onto your back, clench your butt, push your hips up and starfish your arms and legs.

Floating is the key to conserving energy until the emergency services arrive to help you out.

Practice it in the pools on holiday, when you’re playing in water and whenever you can. This is a skill that could save your life.

You can check out out reel about water safety by heading to our Instagram page.

And here’s a bit more about wild swimming safety…

Check your depths

I read an interesting set of statistics from West Yorkshire police about water safety, which included a breakdown of causes of fatalities in water. A significant chunk were caused by folk jumping or diving in unsafely shallow areas. A lot of these fatalities were also teenagers. So check your depths before you get in. Be aware after long periods of dry weather, a place where you jumped in previously, may not be a deep as you remember. This is particularly relevant during the summer months.

Check for hidden hazards

This is kinda linked to the above. Sometimes you don’t know what lurks below. Most of our suggestions above are easy, as you will be able to see the bottom clearly. But Catrigg and Cauldron falls can be dark, and a standard Yorkshire Tea style murk (it’s the peat content, not that the water is foul) so test it out yourself before the kids get in.

In fact ALWAYS be aware of the conditions before allowing children to enter. What may look safe from the side may not be in reality and underwater hidden branches or maybe something that has been swept down the river in more stormy conditions can create changes in the current, or worse, things to get caught on.

Don’t swim in reservoirs

Without getting into the controversy that surrounds swimming in Reservoirs from the Wild Swimming community, from a parental perspective, it’s a big no.

No, not just for the quality of the Yorkshire drinking water! Reservoirs may look serene and ideal for a swim, but you have literally no idea what lies beneath and also they are VAST. They won’t warm up, unlike a shallow tarn, a shallower river or some waterfall plunge pools, and like it or not, cold water can shock the body, and can kill. FACT.

If you want to get an idea about what potentially lies underneath the surface of a reservoir and just how quickly the shores drop away to an insane level of deep water in certain places, check out our Thruscross Reservoir walk, showing the reservoir in drought. There are submerged villages, rusty nails (no kidding) felled tree stumps, not to mention the reservoir machinery that can create abnormal currents and all sorts that can cause you bother.

So in our opinion? Don’t bother. At least not until the Water Companies decide to let us know where the safest places to swim are… (but let’s not send me down that rabbit hole… or plug hole as it were….)

Heard of Bio-Security and Cross Contamination?

This is all about the introduction of alien species to new environments. In the Yorkshire Dales, the White Clawed Crayfish are under threat by the non-native signal crayfish. They shouldn’t be here, but have been introduced to the waterways by people and equipment. They are decimating the native species.

It means we have to be super careful about using clean and dry equipment and water shoes. Should you wish to dip in numerous places, take a clean costume, towel and shoes to all.

Know your strength

This one is mainly applicable to river swimming although after heavy rain a waterfall current can be equally as powerful.

Have you ever swum against a strong current? It’s hard work and is the swimming equivalent of being on a treadmill! So know your currents and know your kids’ strength. Stick to shallower water where they can reach the ground and stand up if they need a break. Also be aware that waterfalls can create downward drag and also pack a powerful wind punch too, which when strong, can knock you off your feet. That’s why with kids, after a period of dry weather is best. Sure the waterfalls won’t be as spectacular, but they are safer.

Swim with people

I do swim on my own with the kids now they’re older, but only ever in areas with phone reception and that are near easy reach of other people! Swimming is however better with friends (plus it’s far more fun!) There are plenty of groups set up for Wild Swimming on Facebook, many of whom have regular dip meet ups if you need to get a bit of safety in numbers!

Have a plan, a firm plan and bear in mind that there is often limited phone reception in remote areas.

Know the weather and the water

The River Wharfe is a particularly fast rising river, and after heavy rain can rise quickly.

Also, kids will feel the cold more quickly than adults, so bear this in mind if the water temp is cooler. During the late Sping, the temperature tends to be somewhere in the region of 10-15 degrees. The lower end of this still feels very cold and brings with it the risk of hypothermia. In Summer, the temperature can rise to be warmer up to around 20 degrees. Unless it’s an extremely hot day, I’ve always found that having an extra layer to hand helps warm up in a swim.

Always supervise kids around water.

Just that.

Statistics again show that a lot of child drownings occur because of the lack of adult supervision. Just keep your eyes on your kids around water (or better, get in there with them!)

But our Rivers and Waterways are full of POO!

Ok. Ahem….. welcome to our new addition for 2024! HI!

You will no doubt have seen the many, MANY news stories and documentaries about the state of our waterways and yes, it does not make for a wild swimmer’s dream read.

But here are our top tips for avoiding the poo-factor.

Avoid Sewage Outflows on Rivers

These are actually marked on maps, so you can find them pretty easily (none of our recommendations for wild swim spots feature sewage plants… thankfully!).

I wholeheartedly recommend swimming nowhere downstream of a sewage plant. Because the storm overflows are only supposed to discharge after ‘storm events’ but apparently, that’s not the case….

Avoid Rivers until 48 hours after heavy rain

This is because the outflows that don’t discharge all the time, WILL discharge in the storms, but not only that, the risk of contamination from water run-off from farms, fields, towns and roads is greater, which is another huge contributor to the state of our river water. Plus, currents are high, and the risk of debris is maxed out, so best to avoid rivers or waterfalls anyway.

Helpful Resources

Here are a couple of pages that you might want to check out if you are considering a swim.

Sewage Map | The Rivers Trust

And

Yorkshire Water - Live storm overflow map

A few facts about Yorkshire Tea…

Ok, I’m not talking about the brew (although, it IS the best tea….. obviously!)

The water in the Yorkshire Dales takes on a definite brew-hue. You will see that the water takes on a clear/ brown red colour that reminds you of a cup of tea (before the milk….) That’s totally normal.

It doesn’t indicate a poo-factor at all (the tips above will help with that) but it’s just the peat from the moorlands above (and where the water originates) that stain the water.

The geology around Malham is the exception to the rule, because of the water coming through limestone. That’s more of a blue/ green colour.

It’s also why the water in the Westmorland Dales varies to that of the rest of the Yorkshire Dales.

And it’s also the reason why the water in North Wales and the Lake District is turquoise. It’s not to do with cleanliness, it’s to do with geography. Simples!

What’s that frothy bit?

In most cases this is nothing more than leaf and plant matter that has been smooshed up (technical term) and has leaft (sorry…. deliberate typo!) its foamy remains on the top of the water (a bit like the froth on top of a cappucino!

But…. this leads me onto the next point…

Use your sense (literally your senses)

If it looks dodgy and more importantly smells dodgy, looks scummy or just doesn’t feel right, then don’t bother getting in.

What stuff do I need for Wild Swimming with kids?

This section of the blog contains affiliate links

Well technically. Nothing.

I mean other than the obvious swimming costume, towel and flotation aids for younger kids!

But we have a few pieces of kit that we LOVE and have never looked back afterwards!

Water Shoes

I find these invaluable. They make stepping over stones less painful; they provide extra grip and warmth too. The kids have uses Ubfen wet suit shoes as well as ones from Mountain Warehouse and Two Bare Feet (man, feet grow fast!) All are easy to get on, are lightweight and have an extra grippy sole too. You can get the Ubfen ones from Amazon, and here’s the link for you to take a look. (As an Amazon associate, I gain commission from any qualifying purchases).

Invest in a change robe

Literally the best investment ever, I now have three versions of the change robe! One super lightweight and fluffy that packs down small into a rucksack, one towel robe that’s a bit heavier, and one ultimate super warm dry robe for winter swims.

The kids also have two of their own (because they kept stealing mine!)

What are they? Well, ours are affectionately called ‘the dressing room’, as that’s pretty much what it is! It’s a massive hooded towelling/ microfibre robe, that goes over your head, and provides you with enough room to get completely dressed and undressed without anybody seeing your naked butt!

We have three brands, the classic but pretty expensive Dry Robe, a Dip and Dales Co. lightweight robe, and the kids have Two Bare Feet robes. All are great and we’d recommend them all.  

New for 2024, the Warmcor - this is super lightweight ‘boob-tube’ for a mountain hike where you have little room for such wild swimming paraphernalia. It’s great for grown ups, and it does the job for littles (although you might need to hold it up!)

Lightweight towels

New for 2024: The amazing Pacmat have designed their own pack-small micro fibre towels that pack SUPER small (like the smallest of all) have beautiful designs and also have a cool button hole hook to hook over the nearest tree branch!

A change mat

Ok… this is not necessary. But it’s nice!!

What it does it dry feet, whilst keeping them clean! You can sit on it too when you’re getting dressed. Wouldn’t be without one now!

Wetsuits

These are great on a cooler day, as they provide an extra layer of warmth. The kids’ wetsuits are from Mountain Warehouse and they have a full length and short version too. They are great, and whilst they won’t stop all of the cold, they do help!  

Flotation vests

We like these better than armbands, as they a less bulky when worn and I feel like it gives me more of a feeling of confidence with the kids in the water when I’m on my own. They also have clips that go under the crotch area to stop them from floating up around the kids’ faces. The only downside is that they are quite bulky to carry, however we usually clip them to the outside of the rucksack, rather than trying to fit them inside. You can find the link for the vests we use here (Affiliate Link).

Update for 2024

This will always be an organic part of the blog, because the kids are now older and can swim! But the lightweight vests were always a great addition! They are lighter and less bulky than a lifejacket, and less bulky than an armband!

So there you go! Our little guide to wild swimming with kids in the Yorkshire Dales!

In 2022 I embarked on my first year of swimming all year around and haven’t looked back since! So contrary to what was originally written in the blog back in August 2022, I have now OFFICIALLY cracked the ice with my bum!

If you are interested to know a little more about why I started my Cold Water Swimming journey, you can check out the blog!

This blog was originally written in 2022 and has now been updated in 2024.