Cold water swimming has exploded in popularity in recent years and many people say taking a chilly dip helps with their mental health, so I thought I'd try it out.

Now, I have to come clean and tell you that, although I was swimming outdoors in a lake, my swim wouldn't officially be classed as a cold water swim because the water was actually quite warm... but I still felt many benefits and I squealed when getting into the water.

My guest is Simon Kerslake who's the volunteer secretary for the Outdoor Swimming Society. Here are the books he recommends:

Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui

Waterlog by Roger Deakin

Haunts of the Black Masseur by Charles Sprawson

The Mindful Art of Wild Swimming by Tessa Wardley

The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook by Kate Rew

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