What a great day out for Brockwell Swimmers on our first excursion following the intrepid ladies of Hampstead Ponds from their book Wild Swimming Walks.

After meeting up at Paddington Ticket Office promptly at 9:15am on Sunday we all took the 9:37am train to Reading where we then caught the bus to Shillingford. On arrival we easily found the footpath to the Thames and started our journey deep into the Oxfordshire country side.

As time was pressing, we skipped the first of three possible swim spots and headed cross country to Wittenham Clumps and Iron Age Fort where the views to the horizon were spectacular.

Then down to Days Lock, with Pooh Sticks Bridge on the way, before our first dip in the Thames at a delicious 19·4°C… heaven.

Next stop was lunch next to the water’s edge before heading off to swim number two further upstream. Then we heading home, slightly foot weary, to Didcot and the train back to London.

A fabulous day out, and something we hope to repeat. More news later. Here are some photos. Click on a picture to enlarge…

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