Taking the Plunge

The thrill of plunging—or dipping a toe—into open water brings joy, confidence, adventure, and friendship. It can wash away stress and sadness, pain and grief. Here water is a great healer, a place to feel gloriously, elementally alive and in touch with yourself, with others, and with nature. Full of life-affirming personal stories and breath-taking images of scenery and swimmers, this book celebrates the remarkable wild swimming community. With practical advice on how wild swimming works and how to get started—from what you'll need (a swimsuit and a smile!) to where best to go (rivers, oceans, lochs, lakes . . .)—there's never been a better time to take the plunge.

"Dip into this beautiful book, and understand the healing nature of wild swimming before you have even taken that first plunge." —Miranda Hart

"This book is a joy!" —BBC Radio 2

"Wow! What a book. This is an emotional description of what we wild swimmers know and love. So familiar are the stories that I feel I know them all personally; if I haven't uttered the words myself, I have probably thought them often. Lived it, loved it. Fabulous." —Beth French, marathon swimmer and inspirational speaker

Vicky Allan is a staff writer for the Herald on Sunday. Her work has also appeared in the Times, Daily Express, Vogue, GQ, the Guardian, and Scotland on Sunday. She has won awards for her travel writing, features writing and for her articles campaigning against violence against women. Her novel Stray is currently being adapted as a feature film. Anna Deacon's photographic work has been published in the Times, Scotsman, Herald, Hood, Big Issue, Refinery 29, Sunday Post, and Outdoor Swimmer, and many others. Anna has organized community swims, beach cleans, and fundraising for mental health charities within the swimming community.