Six years ago, I was living in the Midlands, about as far away from the sea as you can get. But during a week of walking from Poole to Lyme Regis, I fell in love with that vast blue space and its ability to restore my mind and body. I went home, handed in my notice, put my house on the market and within a few months I was living in Exmouth, Devon – a stone’s throw from the most beautiful beach, almost two miles of unbroken golden sand.
I still remember my first outdoor swimming experience, in Exmouth’s sheltered Pirate Cove – how I felt as the cold began to creep up from my toes. Endorphins coursed through me. I was buzzing, grinning, full of joy, and from that moment I was hooked. I began to swim daily.
