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Freezing lake beneath mountain wall named UK's best wild swimming spot
Llyn Cau, in the foothills of Cadair Idris, has been ranked number one in a list of the best places to take a wild swimming dip, with Cuckmere Meanders, Long Pool in Watersmeet and Tanners Lane in Lymington also making the list
A beautiful but freezing cold lake high in the mountains has been named the best place for wild swimming in the UK.
Llyn Cau, in the foothills of Cadair Idris, Wales, has been ranked number one in a list of the best places to take a dip, free from the tyranny of chlorine and screaming children. Hidden high in the rugged peaks of Eryri National Park, Llyn Cau is a breathtaking glacial lake nestled in the crater of Cadair Idris, surrounded by 400-meter mountain walls.
The sheerness of the walls as they rise up from the water is something to behold, and the way in which they tower over the lake can make those swimming about in the shallows feel dwarfed by nature.
Although its elevation means that the lake is on the colder side, coming in at an average of 14.8°C – one of the coldest on the list – the two-hour trail to get to its banks is sure to warm you up.
The deep, crystal clear lake is home to wild brown trout, which will either swim alongside you happily or attempt to evade being hooked out of the water if you're inclined that way. Tyn-Y-Cornel hotel may be able to provide fishing licenses.
"An epic place to swim, I recommend it to everyone! The initial walk is up some quite steep steps, but the scenery makes it worthwhile. It took me just over an hour to walk from the car park and the swim was well worth it. If you get to the side of the lake on your right then you can use the stony, sloping beach as your launch pad," one happy wild swimmer recently wrote on of their trip there.
Another recalled: "With the sun on the lake it is wonderfully blue and clear. There are lots of places where you can walk straight in via the rocky beach, but three of us went for a more dramatic dive from a rock. A glacial lake and the mountain gives a stunning backdrop to a blissful swim on a hot day."
With a final score of 8.57, Llyn Cau ranked as the best hidden spot for wild swimming in the UK, according to the ranking put together by Showers for You.
Wild swimming has become a mainstream pastime in the UK in recent years, with 7.5 million UK residents now venturing into rivers, lakes, and seas. There are plenty of other wild swimming spots across the country, if you are in desperate need of a dip.
Cuckmere Meanders, Long Pool in Watersmeet, Tanners Lane in Lymington and Watkins' path Waterfall were the others to make the list. The last of those in another Welsh entry and it lies along the lesser-known Watkins Path, one of the most scenic routes up Snowdon.
As you follow the Watkins trail, you'll pass through a wooded section that reveals breathtaking waterfalls and natural pools, an ideal spot to pause, unwind, and reconnect with nature. Though the water here is also on the cooler side, averaging 14.8°C, its secluded setting makes it perfect for a refreshing dip on a warm summer's day.
