Wild Swimming and Leave No Trace — The Complete Guide
Share
Wild Swimming — Britain's Fastest Growing Outdoor Pursuit
Wild swimming has exploded in popularity across the UK over the past decade. From the tarns of the Lake District to the rivers of the Cotswolds, the sea lochs of Scotland to the chalk streams of Hampshire, more people than ever are discovering the joy of swimming in natural water.
But with that popularity comes a responsibility. The quality of the water we swim in depends directly on how we — and everyone else — behave in and around it. Human waste is one of the most significant threats to wild swimming water quality, and it's a problem that's getting worse as visitor numbers increase.
Why Human Waste Is a Serious Threat to Wild Swimming
Faecal bacteria — including E. coli and Cryptosporidium — can cause serious illness in swimmers. They enter water sources through:
- Human waste left near riverbanks, lakesides, and coastal paths
- Waste buried too close to water sources or in shallow soils that drain into watercourses
- Waste left by walkers and campers upstream of popular swimming spots
The impact isn't just on swimmers. Faecal contamination affects wildlife, drinking water catchments, and the overall health of freshwater ecosystems. In some of the UK's most popular wild swimming spots, water quality has declined noticeably as visitor numbers have grown.
Leave No Trace at the Water's Edge
The Leave No Trace principles apply just as much at a riverside swimming spot as they do on a mountain summit. For wild swimmers specifically:
- Never go to the toilet within 60m of any water source — and in high-use areas, pack it out rather than burying it
- Use biodegradable soap only — and wash well away from the water
- Pack out all waste — including food waste, packaging, and toilet waste
- Stick to established access points — to avoid damaging bankside vegetation
Why PlopEco Is the Right Choice for Wild Swimmers
The PlopEco® Go Toilet is compact enough to carry in a swimming bag and genuinely eco-friendly — no chemicals that could harm aquatic ecosystems, no plastic waste left behind.
- Lightweight and packable — fits in any bag alongside your towel and wetsuit
- No chemicals — the Eco Toilet Powder is fully biodegradable and safe near water
- TÜV-certified compostable bags — sealed and packed out, leaving no trace
- Protects the water you love — the most direct action a wild swimmer can take to protect water quality
The UK's Best Wild Swimming Spots — and How to Protect Them
- 🌊 Loch Lomond, Scotland — stunning but heavily visited; water quality depends on responsible behaviour from every visitor
- 🌊 Ullswater and Windermere, Lake District — iconic swimming lakes under increasing pressure from visitor numbers
- 🌿 The River Wye, Wales — a beloved swimming river facing serious water quality challenges
- 🌊 Dartmoor's tors and rivers, Devon — remote moorland swimming with no facilities for miles
- 🌊 The Fairy Pools, Skye — one of Scotland's most visited wild swimming spots, where responsible behaviour is essential
