Wild Swimming at Eavestone Lake | Yurtshire
Cold water. Open skies. Total clarity.
Wild swimming at Eavestone Lake is one of those experiences that sounds simple but stays with you. Our private lake sits in ancient woodland on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, and it’s one of the most beautiful, and undiscovered, places to swim in the north of England.
What to expect
Eavestone Lake is a natural, spring-fed lake set within the 100-acre Nidderdale woodland site. The water is clean, cool and clear year-round. Swimming sessions aren’t guided, so you’ll need to be a proficient swimmer.
Swim sessions run throughout the week and include:
- Access to Eavestone Lake for a 1-hour swim session
- Use of our changing facilities
- A warm space to recover and warm up afterwards
Add a Sauna & Ice Bath for the full contrast therapy experience, our wood-fired sauna sits right at the lakeside, making it one of the most atmospheric places in Yorkshire to do a proper hot-cold cycle.
Why cold water?
Wild swimming isn’t just beautiful, it’s genuinely good for you. Regular open-water swimmers report better sleep, reduced anxiety, more energy, and a stronger sense of calm that lasts days after a swim. The science backs this up too: cold-water immersion triggers the release of dopamine and noradrenaline, giving your mood a powerful, natural lift.
A few of the benefits:
- Mental clarity: cold water forces you into the present moment in a way very little else can
- Reduced stress and anxiety: the parasympathetic nervous system response to cold immersion has a measurable calming effect
- Improved circulation: the contrast of cold water and warming up afterwards gets the blood moving
- Better sleep: many regular swimmers report significant improvement
- A genuine sense of achievement: it sounds small, but it isn’t- it’s a big lake!
The Swim, Sauna & Ice Bath experience
For the full Yurtshire wellness experience, combine your swim with a session in our lakeside sauna and an ice bath. This is contrast therapy, moving between heat and cold, and it’s one of the most effective ways to reset your nervous system, reduce muscle tension and simply feel brilliant.
£20 per person | Minimum 2, maximum 4 people
It’s also a brilliant thing to do with a friend, a partner, or a small group. Something about facing cold water together is oddly bonding.
Book your swim
Sessions must be booked in advance. We keep numbers small to protect the experience, and the lake.
Book Swim, Sauna & Ice Bath — £20
Combine it with a stay
Wild swimming is even better when you don’t have to rush home afterwards. Stay in one of our lakeside yurts, light the fire, and let the rest of the day unfold at whatever pace feels right.
View our Eavestone Lake yurts and availability
Questions? Call us on 01423 740783 or email info@yurtshire.co.uk We are happy to help you plan your visit.
