The lovely people at Wild Thing Publishing have sent us another one of their wonderful Wild Swimming books to review. This time John Welle and Lola Culsán explore Spain to discover secluded rock pools and spectacular waterfalls.
They start their adventure in the north-west of the country meandering through the lush valleys of Galicia where they release their “inner otter” playing in the thundering waterfalls, river coves and swim the unrivaled Río Miño. In rocky Asturias they climb to glacial lakes, rope swing into mossy pools and sun themselves on ‘praias fluviales’ (river beaches).
In the Basque country they travel the Pyrenees seeking out its rocky gorges, medieval villages and Romanesque bridges. I would love to try the 12 metre rock jump at Pozo Pígalo, it looks thrilling. In the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone National Park in north Cataluña, waterfalls and natural river pools punctuate the dramatic volcanic landscape. The natural jacuzzi at Gorg del Can Poeti sounds delightful.
South of Barcelona at Les Olles they describe water sculpted pools and bizarre rock formations creating a Daliesque theme park of linked pools. Then on to Guadalajara where serene green lakes shimmer beneath towering cliffs and pines.
In the next chapters they head south towards Valencia and Murcia to discover spectacular village watering holes and large round pools in the Chera National Park. Then down to Andalucía’s whitewashed villages and then heading for the majestic waterfall at the head of Río Verde, crossing hanging bridges ‘Indiana Jones style’ as they go. The book also gives tips on skinny dipping spots if you fancy going native.
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Finally they go to the interior of Spain, north of Madrid, to swim in Poza de la Charca Verde (green puddle) and on to the region of Extremadura in Spain’s far north-western corner where they swim Garganta de los Infiernos (the river of hell). They all look beautiful, even if the names are a little off-putting.
The book is full of wonderful photographs and the amount of local knowledge is invaluable; did you know it’s illegal to drive in Spain wearing flip-flops? Also lots of maps and detailed descriptions of how to find the more remote swimming spots.
This will definitely be in my suitcase next time I head off to sunny Spain. Just need to muster up the courage for that 12 metre jump!