The county of Lincolnshire is full of cultural cities, beautiful countryside, and popular beaches. Whether you live near the city of Lincoln or the east coastline, there is somewhere nearby for you to enjoy the benefits of open water swimming. To make it easier for you to find these spots, we’ve compiled this list of the best Lincolnshire wild swimming locations.
*Before going wild swimming, it’s important to be aware of the dangers and know how to swim safely in open water.*
Activities Away
- Location: South Hykeham
- Price: £10 one off membership
- Swim course length: 200m & 800m
- Supervised?: Yes
Just a stone's throw away from the city of Lincoln in South Hykeham is the Open Water Swimming Centre run by Activities Away. The lake here is only ¼ of a mile long but has 2 swim circuits available at distances of 200m and 800m. One of the beauties of this lake is the quality of the water. Regular testing takes place with continuous scores of ‘Excellent’ due to the fresh lake water being sourced purely from rainwater and groundwater.
To swim here you will need to buy a membership. However, this is only a one-off payment of £10 (unless you need to replace your membership card which will cost another £10). Once you have your membership card, you can come back to swim here every year without needing to buy a new membership. You won’t be required to do an induction either. However, coaching sessions are available if you feel that you would benefit from it.
Ocean Walker
- Location: Langton By Wragby
- Price: £11.50
- Supervised?: Yes
- Requirements: Bright coloured swim cap & swim goggles
Said to have therapeutic benefits, this 7 acre lake is built on top of calcite crystals and is open for wild swimming all year round. For summer swimming, an induction isn’t required but it is recommended. However, to swim here in the winter (October-March), you will need to do a cold water induction.
This venue is great for all open water swimming abilities. If you’re new to open water swimming, lacking in confidence or just want to improve your swimming technique, there are shallower areas of the lake that are perfect for you. On the other hand, if you’re a more experienced swimmer who wants to take off into deeper water to enjoy a recreational swim or train for an event, this lake gives you that opportunity too. Whether a novice or experienced, this venue does require you to book your swimming session in advance.
Tallington Lakes
- Location: Tallington
- Price: £7
- Swim course length: 750m
- Requirements: Tow float/bag
In south Lincolnshire, on the border with Cambridgeshire, is Tallington. Fed with spring water, you can enjoy this 205 acre lake during their all-year-round weekly swimming sessions. Although Tallington Lakes is also popular for other watersports, swimming the 750m circuit here during the allocated swim sessions is safe and peaceful. Just make sure you bring your tow float or dry bag and enjoy your swim.
Beaches
The Lincolnshire coast stretches for more than 50 miles along the east of England with a range of beaches that are ideal for outdoor swimming. You can choose from beaches that are sandy or shingle, busy or quieter, and supervised by a lifeguard or not (Of course, lifeguarded beaches are safer). Wherever you decide to go for your swim, you’ll fall in love with the freshness of the sea on the Lincolnshire coast.
Check out the best Lincolnshire beaches for swimming below:
Skegness
The beach at Skegness is a blue flag beach with lifeguards. The safety of this beach combined with the beautiful sand and location makes it popular with holiday-makers.
Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes Beach is another lifeguarded sandy beach popular with families and holiday-makers.
Chapel St Leonards
The only beach on this list that is a mixture of sand and shingle is Chapel St Leonards. This beach is better if you prefer a quieter swim. However, there is no lifeguard here.
Sutton-on-Sea
The second blue flag beach we recommend in Lincolnshire is Sutton-on-Sea. Like Skegness and Cleethorpes, this beach is sandy and has a lifeguard. However, it does tend to be a bit quieter if you’re looking for somewhere away from the holiday makers.
Ingoldmells
Ingoldmells is another popular holiday destination with a sandy beach, meaning it can get busy. However, if you’re visiting with children, we wouldn’t recommend swimming here as there is no lifeguard.
Moggs Eye
Moggs Eye (otherwise known as Huttoft Beach) is a quiet get-away between Chapel St Leonards and Sutton-on-Sea. This sandy beach isn’t lifeguarded but is a beautiful swim location for more experienced wild swimmers.