I took myself on a swimming holiday and if you love water I highly recommend you do the same.

In 2020, I found myself swimming later and later into the fall, right into winter and I have not stopped since. I started sharing my cold water adventures on social media and connecting with an incredible community of people from around the world. And I found myself drawn to one place in particular, Cornwall, UK. I had come across many artists, swimmers, and hikers who posted images of the rugged coastline, tidal pools, and cold clear water – the water sometimes looking almost tropical at times – and it seemed to be calling to me. 

Cornwall - or Kernew in Cornish - is a historic county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations and is the homeland of the Cornish people. In addition to being known for its rich geology and coastal scenery, it was the many unique tidal pools that are scattered along the coast that initially drew me in. 

Though some of the rock pools are natural, it is the county’s history of mining that is a large reason why many of these tidal pools exist: “Tin mining was important in the Cornish economy from the High Middle Ages, and expanded greatly in the 19th century when rich copper mines were also in production. Mining had virtually ended by the 1990s.” Through word of mouth and with very little recorded history, it is known that miners used explosives to create sea pools in the rocks along the west Cornish coast, creating safe places for children and adults to swim.

The tidal pools have an ephemeral quality and the adventure of finding them excited me. As the tide rises the pools become one with the seafloor, completely hidden from landview. As the tide falls, they reveal themselves and the sun warms the water held within the rocks until the tide rises once again… though still very cold throughout the winter months.