DIVING into a lake or a river is not something you would normally think of doing in Britain. I’ve swum in lakes on holidays abroad and it is not only fun, but incredibly relaxing, especially when it is 30 degrees – and you don’t have the waves splashing against and pulling you in all directions.

Margaret Dickinson has put together Wild Swimming Walks, which looks at lakes, rivers and seas in the South East, where you can cool off in the water, plus a lovely trek to go with it.

And they include a short walk around Hampstead Waters in Hampstead Heath, where you can take in some of the wooded areas, explore the bathing places and take a swim at one of the three locations.

For those wanting something a bit more central then there’s The Serpentine in Hyde Park, one of the oldest swimming clubs in Britain. Their pool is open everyday to the public during the summer and you can enjoy some of the sights around Hyde Park, St James Park and Trafalgar Square.

If you want a more peaceful walk, Margaret suggests the walk from Finsbury Park to Hampstead Ponds, which she describes as having the “most magical outdoor swimming spaces”.

Details: hawog.org.uk