Kate Rew
Described as “the force behind the wild swimming movement” (Triathlon), Kate Rew is founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society and author of Wild Swim (2009), the definitive guide to swimming in Britain’s great outdoors. A huge hit at last year’s festival, we’re delighted to welcome her back to lead us on more inspiring swims in such a beautiful setting.
After growing up swimming in the river in Devon on her family’s farm, Kate founded the Outdoor Swimming Society (which now has something of a cult following) in 2006 to “help British swimmers have more fun… and get back to the joy of swimming under an open sky. Water needs no roof!”
Helping swimmers across the country break out from “chlorined captivity”, Wild Swim takes us on a magical journey through the refreshing waters of the UK’s rivers, lakes, tidal pools, sea and lidos.
Kate led two wild swims at Port Eliot Festival 2009, followed by a relaxing soak in her wood-fired hot tub. She describes swimming at Port Eliot:
“You are a guest of the water on a wild swim, and at Port Eliot the invitation is made by the tide. On my first visit I sat waiting between gnarly oaks for the muddy channel to fill, watching clumps of bladder wrack float upstream between tree roots with the incoming tide. Seawater mixed with river water and then the sirens started to call: “Come on in, the water is lovely.” Stepping out into the river I swam out from the cover of the wood and was carried aloft on the shoulders of the buoyant water all the way to the Boathouse, past cornfields and reedbeds, and eight small birds on a waterborne branch. A truly magical swim: join me at the festival to celebrate and enlarge the beauty of either day with a nice long swim.”
www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com
“Stroke of genius”
Monocle magazine
“Her prose is perfect. Page after page she nails things. Will have you hunched on the sofa as though with a stash of love letters.”
(The New Statesman)
“A wonderful - in the old sense of that term - and joyful romp of a book. So go on. Dive in.”
Robert Macfarlane, author of The Wild Places
Links:
This year’s Wild Swim is sponsored by our friends at Pedlars:
“This is our first time at Port Eliot. We have always wanted to come. But somehow – until now- the distance from Pedlars Towers has always got in the way.
And so when the lovely people at Port Eliot asked us to join them, we jumped at the opportunity. We’re sponsoring the Wild Swim and generally helping to spread happiness. We’ve got a couple of wheel barrows full of fruit from our farm, some bell tents, some top notch coffee and some other bits and bobs. We’re also next to our friends at Caught By The River. Please come and see us.”
Video:
See Kate Rew discover New Zealand:
