Wild swimming is the ultimate free family activity when the weather hots up, according to mum of two Hannah Britt, who shares her top tips for having a splashing good time and staying safe.
Why France is a top spot
For Britt, France is unbeatable for wild swimming, offering an abundance of clean, warm, and legally accessible natural waterways, lakes, and gorges. The country has thousands of miles of pristine rivers and over 1,300 official inland river bathing sites, supported by mountain ranges like the Alps, Pyrenees, and the Jura that feed crystal-clear water year-round. You can even bathe in some parts of the Seine in Paris.
Essential kit and where to stay
You don't need much to become a wild swimmer apart from a car, swimwear, SPF, microfibre towels, a picnic blanket, and a baguette. Water shoes are also useful as many river beaches are stony. Britt recommends the Wild Swimming France book, which lists over 1,000 recommended and proven safe swim spots around the country.
This summer, Britt and her family stayed in a stone farmhouse in Saint-Saveur-de-Cruzieres on Airbnb. The 5-hectare estate is split into two living areas: a large house with four bedrooms and a master kitchen, and a smaller house with one bedroom upstairs and a kitchen diner downstairs. To the rear, a swimming pool enjoyed views over the fields and hills beyond the grounds.
Top swim spots and getting around
Nearby wild swims included the Pont du Gard, where you can bathe in the clear, cool waters of the Gardon River directly beneath a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct. Guinguette La Frigoulette, a family-run riverside restaurant operating since 1969 in Saint-André-de-Roquepertuis, serves as a casual base for a day of swimming along the Cèze River. Moulin du Roc Tombe, near Saint-Ambroix, is another scenic spot on the Cèze, and Vallon Pont d'Arc in the Ardèche region offers crystal-clear emerald water, sandy river beaches, and rocks to jump from around a 34-meter-high natural limestone arch.
To get truly wild, Britt hired a car with Sixt, choosing a BMW X5 with a boot big enough for gear and to climb inside for changing. The 4x4 handled rough terrain on dirt tracks and makeshift car parks at remote locations.
Safety advice from a record swimmer
Record-breaking lake swimmer Neil Gilson shares advice for safe swimming: assess water temperature, weather, wind, currents, and conditions before every swim, and only swim when it is safe. Never underestimate open water, as it can be dangerously cold even on hot days. Always swim with others, choose a safe location, and never take unnecessary risks.
