Practical information

Here are a few helpful things to know before your visit to Swillington Wilds.

Membership

Swillington Wilds is a members-only swimming and sauna venue. Membership allows you to book swim sessions and sauna slots throughout the year, as well as connecting you with the wider Wilds community through our dedicated members-only Facebook group.

Memberships will be released in batches, you can read more about joining here.

Booking

All sessions must be booked in advance through our website.

Swim sessions and sauna sessions are booked separately, although sauna bookings include the option to swim before or after your sauna.

Session Times

Swim and sauna sessions run throughout the week with the following opening times:

Wednesday & Thursday

Swim: 7am – 11am and 5pm – 8pm | Sauna: 9am – 11am and 5pm – 8pm

Friday & Saturday

Swim: 7am – 8pm | Sauna: 9am – 8pm

Sunday

Swim: 7am – 4pm | Sauna: 9am – 4pm

To note: evening swim sessions will run as relaxed 2-hour sessions. Swimmers must be out of the water by 7.45pm so the site can close at 8pm.

The final sauna session each evening will finish at 7.55pm and won’t include a post-sauna dip.

Sauna sessions last 55 minutes.

These times are likely to extend as our team grows.

What to Bring

Wild swimming is simple but a little preparation makes the experience much more comfortable.

We recommend bringing:

• Swimwear

• A towel

• Warm layers for afterwards

• Footwear for walking around the site

• A towfloat if you plan to swim

Many swimmers also bring a flask of something warm to enjoy afterwards.

Facilities

Facilities on site are simple and designed to fit naturally within the landscape.

You’ll find:

• A wild swimming lake

• Wood-fired lakeside sauna

• Outdoor changing shelter

• Portable toilets

• Seating areas

• A mobile coffee van serving hot drinks - Wild Gray’s.

Lake Care & Environmental Products Policy

Swillington Wilds is located within a working organic farm and stewarded landscape. The lakes are managed in a low-intervention way and have been for decades. We do not chlorinate or chemically treat the water in the way a swimming pool would be managed.

The lake remains a living habitat, including for the carp and wider aquatic ecology that have long existed here from its former use as a fishery. We therefore ask all swimmers to help us minimise unnecessary pollutants entering the water wherever possible.

Sunscreen & Skin Products

We encourage swimmers to protect their skin appropriately when spending time outdoors.

However, where possible, we ask members to choose mineral-based or environmentally considerate sunscreens, as some conventional products contain ingredients that can persist in natural waterways. We also ask you to apply suncream 15-30 minutes before entering the water so it is fully absorbed.

For guidance on environmentally considerate sunscreens, please see the advice from the Outdoor Swimming Society here.

Lake Management

To help maintain water clarity, limit weed growth and reduce algae that can become harmful to swimmers, the lake is managed using a non-toxic, high-quality shading treatment which blocks red light and therefore limits the photosynthesis of unwanted aquatic plants and algae.

This approach reduces the need for more intensive interventions and supports long-term water quality while maintaining the lake as a living ecosystem. The farm adopted this method as part of a lower-impact approach to managing the former fishery.

Before You Swim

Where practical, please:

  • Apply sunscreen 15–30 minutes before entering the water so it is fully absorbed

  • Rinse your swim kit regularly between different swimming venues

  • Help us keep the site clean and free from litter

Please Avoid Entering the Water With:

  • Heavy oils, fake tan or body lotions

  • Excess hair products or cosmetics

  • Soap, shampoo or detergents of any kind

  • Any chemical or substance not intended for use in natural water environments

  • Recently applied insect repellent

Small individual actions make a meaningful difference in protecting the lake environment and preserving the character of the water for wildlife and future swimmers.