Wild Swimming Walks:
Yorkshire
Published on April 1st 2025
Find out more about Sarah at sarahbanks.me.
The Yorkshire Wild Swimming Walks You Need to Know About
Wild Swimming Walks: Yorkshire is a beautiful collection of rambling walks through the Yorkshire Dales, Moors and coastline, interspersed with awe-inspiring waterfalls, icy plunge pools and crystal-clear rivers inviting readers to take a dip
Living North chatted to author Sarah Banks to find out all about the book and the benefits of wild swimming.
Sarah’s background is in journalism, and she wrote for Living North back in its infancy. Now living near Malton, she began her career as a published author by pitching the idea for her first book, Wild Guide: North East England to Wild Things Publishing. ‘I always loved their books – they’re really photogenic and they get people outdoors exploring and visiting places that are off the radar and, more importantly, free,’ she says. ‘The reason I love writing these books is that I love finding something I’m really passionate about and sharing it. It’s kind of my dream job really.’
She also has a photography diploma (all of the photographs in the book are hers), which she completed in 2020. ‘To be able to marry the writing and the photography is what I love, capturing photographs of the scenery or people in the water. I took far too many photos as always, the difficult thing was whittling them down!’
Sarah has always written about outdoorsy subjects, and fell in love with wild swimming as it featured heavily in her previous book. Her favourite walk in this book is number three, Muker and Swinner Gill. ‘Swinner Gill is a canyon that you could very easily miss but on this walk, you go into it and pass lots of little cascades and waterfalls. It’s a beautiful walk with fabulous views from the top.
‘I also love the Flamborough coast and those little hidden coves of Thornwick Bay and North Landing,’ she continues. ‘I’d love to go and do that walk again, without the pressure of mapping or photographs, just to go and enjoy it! I definitely want to return to them.’
The benefits of wild swimming are numerous, both physical and mental. ‘With wild swimming, there’s research into how it can help you physically through boosting your immune system and lowering blood pressure. There’s also the mental health side. It gives a feeling of wellbeing,’ says Sarah. ‘People are really evangelical about it – on Instagram, you follow one post and suddenly get more popping up of people in their costumes and bobble hats!’
‘With wild swimming, there’s research into how it can help you physically through boosting your immune system and lowering blood pressure’
One of the primary benefits is the way it allows swimmers to connect with nature and unplug from the digital world. ‘You’re so focused on swimming, you can’t take your phone in and you’re just enjoying it for the pleasure of it. There’s very few activities where you’re so focused in that moment,’ says Sarah. ‘It pushes your limits a little bit.’
Community is another benefit – at the suggestion of her publisher, Sarah set up a Facebook group for wild swimmers, which now has three and a half thousand members. ‘You get little groups of wild swimmers that get together. If you swim at this time of year, you’re not in the water that long; you’re going to spend longer sitting on the river bank or in the café,’ she explains. ‘It’s a lifeline for people, it forges friendships. I’ve met lots of people through doing this book and made some really good friends.’
The group also helped Sarah when it came to the photography for the book too, as she didn’t want to exclusively include images of her family and friends. ‘I really wanted different groups of people in the photographs, so that was the trade-in. They’d come on the walk with me and were happy to have their photos taken,’ she says. ‘It was a collaborative experience.’
She advises beginners to first join their local group before going out there alone. ‘Meeting up with a group is a great first step as they’re always very welcoming and always helpful to newcomers. Also, don’t go in for too long at first – you can always go back, even if you just go up to your knees. It’s a big thing to plunge right in!’
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
Favourite place for a weekend in Yorkshire?
Keld in Swaledale. It’s beautiful, remote and there’s loads of waterfalls.
One essential item for a trip into nature?
A paper map. Digital mapping apps are great but when going remote, you can’t always rely on them. Learn a little bit of map reading and you can create your own adventure.
Favourite place to eat in Yorkshire?
The Owl Hawnby. There’s a fantastic terrace with a lovely view and it’s great all year round. A Living North reader would love that!
Any words to live by?
Seize the day!
