Take to the Water: Activities in the Northwest

With access to the Lakes and the coast, the Northwest offers a range of opportunities for water babies to upgrade from their weekly sesh at the indoor pool. Local instructors introduce us to open water swimming, surf, sail, canoe and more

Feature by Anna Tully | 10 Jun 2014

Getting involved in some sort of watersport activity probably isn’t a thought that frequently crosses the mind of many city dwellers – lest said city dweller be holidaying on some unspoilt island in the Mediterranean, or, let’s be realistic, Anglesey. But our proximity to both sea (Irish) and lake (Windermere) makes donning our swimming caps and diving into the nearest open water an accessible pastime. (Don’t worry: for most of the following, a rubber hat is not actually necessary.)

Perhaps the most ‘entry-level’ activity of the lot (on first sight, anyway), open water swimming offers an obvious ‘in’ to those who are already keen pool swimmers. In fact, it’s the reason why young swimmer Hazel Killingbeck began. “I was deciding whether I wanted to quit pool competitions because I was not nearly getting anywhere sprinting, and I fell in love with open water swimming,” she says. The next week, she found herself completing a one-mile open water swim over in Salford Quays.

Killingbeck recommends testing the waters over at Liverpool Docks: “They’re great because the salt water helps you to get used to the sea and even has baby jellyfish!” she exclaims. There’s a Liverpool Open Water Society based at the Docks, or, for those closer to Manchester, she wholeheartedly recommends checking out USWIM Openwater – a swimming group with sessions at Salford Quays and Boundary Water Park, Cheshire. “USWIM has an incredible vibe and is great for beginners or people wanting good training,” she says. 

In the meantime, Killingbeck has had to ‘make do’ with her local environs, as she awaits her 16th birthday before she can legally swim the English Channel. “I completed my two-way Windermere swim last August," she explains. "This was 21 miles and considered a harder swim than the English Channel itself. I completed mine in 11 hours and I could not be any happier with that swim.” Events like the Epic Lakes Swim Series, in Ullswater, provide a range of lengths, both for those just starting out and for anyone ready to indulge in a spot of Ironman triathlon training. 


"You don't have to be particularly fit to enjoy a day out on the water" – Claire Weller


For those among us who are tempted by the water, but aren’t quite ready to dive straight into such chilling temperatures, there are many more activities on offer. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) proves a good starting point for those looking to learn a little more about sailing or windsurfing, providing information on local clubs and training courses. Jonny Cormack, an instructor at Windermere Outdoor Adventure Centre, specialises in working with beginners and thinks the lake itself is a great place for starting out: “Even though it’s the biggest lake in England, it’s a good spot for learning, particularly because it has many sheltered areas for beginners,” he says.

Cormack notes that while significant numbers of people start out windsurfing, the activity can also offer a steady progression from sailing, once you’ve found your balance in the water: “Windsurfing can get quite extreme quite quickly, once you’ve got the experience behind you. You’ve got to embrace getting wet as you’ll be in the water a lot more!” Cormack’s colleague, Neil Mulhall, a paddlesports instructor, also notes that there’s been an increase in interest in recent years, particularly at Windermere: “Since they put the speedboat ban in, there’s been a lot more interest in paddleboard. It’s a lot safer for people to get out on the Lake.”

If the idea of all this activity is starting to feel a little bit too much like, well, sport, rest assured: you can choose to take it a little easier by stepping foot into a canoe. Claire Weller, owner of Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft, says that canoeing is “a great sport for people of any age, which I think adds to its appeal. You don't have to be particularly fit to enjoy a day out on the water. Simply drifting around in a canoe and exploring the quiet areas of a lake or visiting an island is great fun, whether you're five or 85.” Mulhall agrees: “It’s just a different way of looking at nature and exploring areas you wouldn’t be able to reach on foot.”

Weller is also keen to stress the versatile nature of watersports as a whole. “There are of course the high-profile disciplines of white water slalom and sprint or marathon racing, which are great fun to both participate in or as a spectator, but there is also canoe touring, whitewater paddling, sailing, sea kayaking, canoe polo and expedition canoeing, which is my particular favourite.” Expedition canoeing goes back to basics; the canoe’s original intended purpose was for long-distance journeys across water, and centres like Weller's offer courses or weekends away that allow attendees to learn more about nature and the environment, as well as basic bushcraft skills, including fire lighting and knot tying – kind of like a grown-up version of Scouts. 

So are you keen to get your feet off dry land yet? Sound advice from the instructors encourages those interested to join a local club in the sport of their choice, to try out taster sessions. Debdale Outdoor Centre in east Manchester offers taster sessions in most watersports, as does Liverpool Watersports Centre on Queens Dock. If your last experience of being anywhere near water was gaining your five metres, fear not – as Mulhall informs us, “It’s not a prerequisite to be a good swimmer. You just need to feel comfortable being in the water.”

Liverpool Open Water Society: liverpoolopenwater.org.uk

USWIM: uswimopenwater.com

Epic Lakes Swim Series: epicevents.co.uk/open-water-swims

Royal Yachting Association: rya.org.uk

Windermere Outdoor Adventure Centre: facebook.com/WindermereOutdoorAdventureCentre

Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft: keswickcanoeandbushcraft.co.uk

Debdale Outdoor Centre: manchester.gov.uk

Liverpool Watersports Centre: liverpoolwatersports.org.uk