Local author stumbles across amazing places to swim

: Published: 24 August 2020

Wildswim

Read to the bottom to enter our competition and enter to win a copy of Wild Swim!

Bergli Books have come out with another amazing book with local interest. This time they partnered with Steffan Daniel for his expertise. Wild Swim guides you to nearly 100 alpine plunges, urban floats, and forest dips across Switzerland. With swim descriptions in English, German, and French, as well as convenient maps and practical insights into transport, safety and access, Wild Swim makes a new kind of summer adventure possible, from glacial dives to safe, family fun. We asked Steffan a few questions to get to know how this book came about:

What prompted you to do this book?
I've been living in Switzerland since 2013. When I first moved here I kept stumbling across amazing places to swim, usually during mountain bike trips in the Alps. With limited Swiss swimming guidebooks available and feeling inspired by its stunning landscape and swimming culture, I decided to write about the outdoor swimming spots here. Around 10 years ago, I was given the book 'Wild Swim' (UK) by Kate Rew as a gift, and I still enjoy flicking through it today. I guess that planted a seed.

I grew up in Wales about half an hour from the coast, which meant I spent a lot of time in and around the sea with family and friends. We'd sometimes drive to Mid-Wales to find waterfalls in the forest to jump from. It was always much more about the fun-factor than fitness. Today I also like to swim to clear the mind after work or cool down after a day in the mountains.

What is Wild Swimming? What's the outdoor swimming culture like in Switzerland?
Wild swimming has become quite a common term to describe swimming outdoors, away from chlorine-diluted, man-made swimming pools. You connect with nature and discover new places - I find the most remote places give you the best swimming experiences. That said, there are some amazing urban outdoor swim spots in Switzerland, a must-do if you're here in Summer. And it’s not all about distance or endurance - wild swimming can be fun, therapeutic, sociable, and thrilling.

People here absolutely love outdoor swimming - it’s really just part of everyday life. As Spring transitions to Summer, people keep a close eye on the water temperature. When it's just about bearable, you'll see eager swimmers limbering up at the river banks preparing themselves to jump in.

It’s completely normal to see people floating downriver in Basel or Bern. There are also lots of swimming events - lake crossings, mass river floats, and even traditional winter dips. It's something you see everywhere, enjoyed by people of all ages.

The Swiss do take great care of their natural landscape - I think people here have a very strong connection with the outdoors.. There are many designated swim spots that are maintained by the local communities. The people here have a strong sense of community and environmental responsibility. The Swiss love to barbecue too. The natural swimming spots are perfect places to combine the two.

For lots of people here swimming is social. Or a swim is a refreshing start to a summer’s evening. A day out with the family. A pit-stop during a long hike. Swimming is an inherent part of Swiss living!

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Which is your favorite swim spot?
There are so many nice places - there's a good reason why Switzerland is nicknamed the Water-Castle! This book really just touches the surface (mind the pun). I particularly love floating in the rivers though, and I still keep a list of places I'd like to go for a dip.

Is this part of a series of books? What are your future plans?
This was the first book focusing on Wild Swimming in Switzerland, though there are a number of guide books by other wild swimming authors covering France, Italy, Great Britain, to name a few countries. I will continue to explore and enjoy the process of finding new spots, and I would love to share some adventures with my son - he's just turned 1 and very excitable in the water!

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As a special gift, Bergli Books is offering 1 lucky knowitall.ch reader a copy of Wild Swim by Steffan Daniel (Fr. 34.90 value). Just fill in this form and let us know: Nearly how many wild swim spots are featured in this book?

Only one entry per email is allowed. The competition closes at midnight on Tuesday, 1 September 2020. The names of all those submitting correct answers will be placed into the digital hat and the winner's name drawn at random on Wednesday, 2 September 2020. The winner will be notified by email and his/her name will be added to this article after the competition closes. Only valid for delivery to a Swiss address.