10 Best Open Water Swimming Venues In and Around Worcestershire

Looking for an open water swimming venue in Worcestershire?

Open water swimming is becoming popular. There are open water swimming venues popping up everywhere. In fact, two new venues  have opened in 2024. Whether you’re looking for a cold water swimming spot in the winter or want the best locations for summer swimming, we have all the details below.

Find the six best open water swimming venues in Worcestershire and times of sessions in 2024.

I have also listed other open water and outdoor swimming venues in and around the county too.

The open water swimming at Aztec Adventure in Upton Warren, near Bromsgrove will start from Wednesday 8th May 2024 and run until Wednesday 23rd August!

Sessions are :

• Wednesday evenings 18:30 – 20:00

The course is around 400 metres in length. There are toilets, changing rooms and showers on site. All sessions are supervised with lifeguards on and off the water.

All bookings must be pre-booked.  You can book here

They also run open water swimming courses including:

Introduction to Open Water Swimming
Improve Your Skills & Confidence -Open Water Swimming

Book on courses here. 

If you have any questions you can contact the office on 01527 861426 or email: uptonwarren@aztecadventure.co.uk

Escape to the Lake is another gorgeous lake, located at Riverlands Farm, Malvern. Open water swimming sessions are available to book on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Rest and rest retreats also take place on selected dates throughout the summer here too. The mini retreats last a few hours and include a yoga session, meditation and an invigorating dip which is followed by refreshments by the fire pit. 

Book your swim or retreat online at the Escape to the Lake website.

Arrow Valley Lake, Redditch

Arrow Valley Lake by Roland Turner / Flickr Creative Commons

Swim sessions are run at Arrow Valley Lake in Redditch by Worcester Triathlon Club. To attend a session you don’t need to be a triathlete as they are keen to encourage anybody who wants to try open water swimming to give it a go.

However, you will need to join Worcester Triathlon Club as an open water member for insurance purposes. This is only £10 for the whole season. Register here. 

Most years the sessions run from May until September.

They take place every Monday between 6pm – 7:30pm and each session costs £7.50

Worcester Triathlon Club are a not for profit organisation and entirely run by volunteers. Every penny they make goes back into the sport (plus the club also supports St Richard’s Hospice as their chosen charity). The club are also committed to to make OW swimming accessible to all.

You can join the Worcester Triathlon Facebook Group for up to date information.

The Lenches Lakes, Evesham

Picture from Lenches Lakes Facebook page

The Lenches Lakes offer open water swimming sessions all year round.

They welcome swimmers varying from recreational to event swimmers, novice to advanced. The depth of the lake varies from 5 foot to fifteen hence it is important swimmers are confident.

Summer swim sessions 2024 are take place on numerous mornings and evenings throughout the week including most Saturday mornings between 7am and 11.30am.

You need to book in advance on the website and you’ll need to purchase a medical ID wrist band (however, I believe they have spare ones for guests). There is place for 30 swimmers at each session.

This is the only venue for winter open water swimming in Worcestershire. Please note if you want to swim here during the winter, it’s a requirement to have completed a 2 hour winter swim session course that are run onsite.

The Lenches also run a number of other courses throughout the year including open waters swimming coaching and open water swimming lifeguard training.

Broadfields Wild Swimming

Located on Cutnall Green, Drotwich, this beautiful natural lake is open in summer 2024 as a new open water swimming venue. Book to swim here on Saturday mornings, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

There are also Introduction to Wild Swimming Courses which are also available to book. Find out more information on the Facebook page and book your swim sesson online here. 

University of Worcester, Lakeside Campus

Photo from Lakeside Campus Facebook page

The Lakeside Campus at the University of Worcester offers open water swim sessions from the May to the end of July.

The course is perfect for beginners just starting out as well as more experienced triathlete. The 1.6m lake has a 650m circuit.

Experienced & qualified lifeguards are always on hand to ensure safety and robust management and testing systems ensure that the lake is prepared for your swim.

They also offer open water coaching sessions on a 1-2-1 or small group basis during regular sessions. They offer sessions for everyone, whether you are new to open water and venturing out of the pool for the first time or want to chase quicker times for competitions.

The sessions run as follows:

Monday and Thursday 6pm-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-10am

You can book online. 

The bookings aren’t tied to a particular date so you can be flexible as to when you attend. There is the option to buy a single swim, block of five or block of ten.

It’s worth keeping an eye on the Facebook page as they aren’t open on some bank holidays and staff training days.

Other Places To Swim Outdoors in Worcestershire and The Surrounding Area

Droitwich Spa Lido

Based in Droitwich, Worcestershire the lido isn’t open water swimming as such but it is swimming outdoors. They are open all year round with a winter and summer swim timetable. Find out more and book online. 

Upper Bittell Reservoir with BRAT, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove

You can swim at Upper Bittell Reservoir on Thursday evenings but you have to be a member of BRAT which is the Birmingham Running Athletics Triathlon Club. It’s not open to non members. However if you run or partake in triathlons you may be interested in joining the club and swimming with them too. Sessions take place on Thursday evenings between 6pm and 7.30pm. The course is 500m. It’s best to contact the club and see what they are doing for the 2024 session before you join. Find out more on the BRAT website.

Netherton Open Water Swimming

Netherton open water swimming is located at Lodge Farm Reservoir in Netherton, Dudley, home to Dudley Water Sports Centre just a mile away from Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

Sessions take place all year round on Saturday morning. In May to September swim you can swim on Monday evening as well. To swim you will need to sign up to Nowca online for insurance purposes.

Find out more at Netherton Open Water Swimming

Midlands Open Water Swimming, Tamworth

Midlands Open water swimming is based in Kingsbury, Tamworth.

It’s a privately owned lake which is beautiful. You need to pay £20 insurance to book swim sessions in the lake. After that it costs £7 per session. The sessions take place at 6pm on Wednesdays and 11am on Saturday mornings during the summer.

They also run swimming lessons.

Book your session here. 

Dotshill Quarry, Tamworth

Dotshill Quarry in Tamworth offers magnesium packed water and a picturesque location.

At the time of writing you can swim on Wednesday and Friday evenings but they are open at other times as well. Check the website for dates and times.  There are also opportunities to do full moon swims.

You have to register on the website before you swim. It’s free to do so. Then book swims online. They are open for cold water swimming in the winter as well as for open water swimming during the summer.

Cliff Lakes, Tamworth

If you want to try open water swimming in Tamworth, you’re spoiled for choice as Cliff Lakes is another option of outdoor swimming in the area.

It’s the Midlands largest open water venue. There’s changing rooms, eco friendly showers and a free swimmers tea and coffee after your swim.

There are two different courses 250m and 500m. Obviously the shorter course is great for beginners. The swimming area is fully lifeguarded with a rescue boat to respond to incidents.

Cliff Lakes welcomes all swimmers from beginners to experienced triathletes. The site hosts regular events including ladies only swims and triathlon coaching. There is also the option of cold water swimming from November to March on Saturday mornings between 10am and 11am

Check the Cliff Lakes website to to see up to date swim session times and to book.

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