rg:active Open Water Swimming

The water here is cold, properly cold, and that's rather the point. RG:Active Open Water Swimming is a lake near Nottingham where people actually get in - no pools, no chlorine, just you and the water as nature intended. It's the sort of place that appeals to the growing tribe of open water swimmers, the ones who've ditched the leisure centre for something with a bit more character.

What you're doing is straightforward: swimming in a genuine lake, which sounds simple until you realise how few places actually let you do this. The water temperature varies by season, obviously. Summer's pleasant enough; winter separates the committed from the casual. Most visits run two to three hours depending on how long you want to stay in and whether you're the type to linger with a coffee after.

Walkers will find it worth knowing about, particularly those based at nearby Gunthorpe Camping or Peacock Lake Glamping, as it breaks up a day nicely. It's not a spectator sport, though - this is for active swimmers, people with some experience in open water. If you're hoping for a gentle paddle, go elsewhere. If you're tired of chlorinated pools and fancy something genuinely different, this delivers.

You'll need to check current opening hours and booking arrangements directly before heading out from Nottingham, as these details aren't fixed online. Worth ringing ahead rather than making the journey only to find it's closed.