Come on in, the water’s lovely
Swimming outdoors can be chilly, but it's very good for the soul. Margaret Drabble introduces our guide to the best spots for a dip in Britain
10 top activity holidays by the beach
Forget lazing on the beach. For paragliding, hiking, swimming treks and more, read on
Open water swimming v scuba diving
Sam Murphy assesses the relative merits of both forms of exercise
All you need to know about …
... sea swimming
Swimming
Sam Murphy talks to Karen Pickering, the UK's most decorated female swimmer, with 73 international and national titles, including eight world championship medals.
How to …
... improve your swimming
Wet and wild
Forget the indoor pool and try swimming in open water. It can be a lot more pleasurable, no one will get in your way - and better still, you'll get fitter faster, says Peta Bee.
Childhood asthma rise linked to swimming
· Chlorine gas from indoor pools could affect lungs
· Be cautious if the smell is strong, professor warns
‘He’s an incredibly single-minded individual. He didn’t miss a single training session in nine months.’
Jacqueline Maley:Little Britain star David Walliams enjoys fame but had to beat nerves to make Channel swim.