Christmas Day,Boxing Day & New Years Day Dip

Where: Whitley Bay, North Tyneside by the Boardwalk Cafe & Various locations around the UK
When: Whitley Bay 26th December & 1st January - other events 25th & 26th December, 1st January
Time: Whitley Bay 10.45 for 11am- others various times

 

A number of locations around the UK host midwinter swimming events – not all of them are even on the coast – and they seem to be growing in popularity through the twenty-first century. On Christmas Day there are usually events at Brighton, Bournemouth, Exmouth, Polkerris and Porthcawl; on Boxing Day try Liverpool’s Albert Dock, Aberdeen’s Nippy Dipper, Whitley Bay, Tenby, Redcar or Seaburn ; at New Year Saundersfoot, Broughty Ferry, Queensferry’s Loony Dook, Whitley Bay (again!) or Clevedon. Some events have a competitive element but most are just a group of brave enthusiasts proving their hardiness!

Helpful Hints

I’ve used Whitley Bay as an example as it’s near where I live.

There will be a similar event somewhere near you! Because of the unpredictable nature of British weather, they are very occasionally cancelled for safety reasons (as happened in Brighton in 2012, for example). For a different midwinter swimming event see the article “Peter Pan Cup”.

For a full list of festive swimming events click here : http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/home

and watch out in your local press as they’re dotted around all over the country. There’s even a Plunge in the White Wells on New Year’s Day at Ilkley in Yorkshire, far from the coast!

View this location on the map.