The best festive swims in Cornwall

Words by Lydia Paleschi

When it comes to wild swimming, we feel that there are three core elements that can be found when entering into the cool waters of the UK: community, self-care and developing an affinity with the natural world. The festive season is a time when we can tap into community in particular, as we join those in our local area for a Christmas, Boxing Day or New Year dip.* Each year, a number of casually arranged swims take place across the beaches of the county. Each is open to participation by all, regardless of swimming ability. If you’d like to take part, take a look at the list below to find a festive swim near you. Alternatively, if you’re looking to take up wild swimming in the New Year, our find your group page can help you to find other swimmers who meet more regularly. 

*It’s worth noting that winter is off-season, so many of the beaches will be unattended by lifeguards. For safety purposes, ensure that you never swim alone. It’s much safer to attend a scheduled event than to create a swim of your own.

Top tips for winter dips

Whilst each arranged festive swim in Cornwall is different, many of them include unofficial rules to ditch your wetsuits. Whether you’re wearing a wetsuit or not, it’s important to consider how you plan to say safe in the water and manage the side effects that come with swimming in the cold. Afterdrop can be an unpleasant and sometimes frightening experience, whereby your core temperature drops and you experience uncontrollable shivering and lethargy amongst other things. We’ve included 5 top tips which should help you stay comfortable when cold water swimming and have an extensive page dedicated to safety information. This time of the year, the waters can be below 10 degrees celsius – much colder than the 37 degrees our core temperature runs at. It’s important to familiarise yourself with the risks present with cold water immersion and the marine environment before entering the water, to ensure as safe and enjoyable a swim as possible. 

Christmas swims promise to be chilly

1. Don’t expect to be in the water  for long. Whilst you may feel the urge to stay in the water for a while and make the most of having fun, this could mean your core temperature drops too low. To prevent the unwelcome side effects which come when we get too cold, be aware of how you feel. Anything more than a quick dunk could be too much if you’re not acclimatised. 

2. Consider wearing a woolly hat, gloves and booties. Even if you’re opting for the no wetsuit option there are ways you can prevent excess loss of bodily heat. We lose the most heat from our extremities, so wetsuit boots, gloves and keeping your head warm and above the surface of the water can go a long way in preserving heat. 

3. Get dressed quickly and layer up. Even when we leave the water, our body continues to cool for around ten minutes. Get dressed quickly and wear plenty of layers to bring your core temperature back up as quickly as possible. These days many people opt for dryrobes, but a hat and thick socks go a long way too.

4. Replenish your energy levels. Sugary snacks and a hot drink work wonders on replenishing energy. Warm liquids also help to heat us from the inside, bringing our core temperature back to normal levels. 

5. Get moving. If you still feel cold, gentle exercise such as a walk or some jumping jacks can get your blood pumping so you warm up faster. You’ve already been crazy enough to get in icy-feeling water, so what about jumping around on the beach to complete the experience!?

The best festive swims in Cornwall 

Most festive swims take place around the county on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Their origins lie in a number of different areas – some for charity, some for fun and some because of dares turned into tradition – but all come today with the same sense of openness and community. Many of them also involve local cafés who open their doors to both participants and spectators. Each serve something different, but often there are a selection of hot drinks including mulled wine, tea and coffee. 

Christmas Day swims in Cornwall 

1. Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth

2. Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes 

3. Coverack Harbour, Coverack

4. Hayle Bay, Polzeath

5. Crooklets Beach, Bude 

6. Sennen Surf School, Sennen

7. Watergate Bay, Newquay 

Boxing Day swims in Cornwall

1. Poldhu Beach, Lizard Peninsula  

2. Porthminster Beach, St Ives 

3. Charlestown Beach, Charlestown

4. Portreath Beach, Portreath

5. Perranporth Beach, Newquay 

New Year’s Day swims in Cornwall 

1. Newquay Harbour, Newquay 

2. Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth 

3. Readymoney Cove, Fowey 

4. Harlyn Bay, Padstow 

5. Looe Beach. Looe

6. Gorran Haven, Gorran Haven

*Please note, there are some affiliate links in this blog post. However, rest assured, all of these items are ones which we have used already and which we know are high quality and reliable.

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