Every time I head to the Lake District I feel obliged to take a dip. I am by no means a wild swimmer or a cold water dipper, I just love how alive and peaceful being in a lake can be.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the region and while there are sections which feel a bit busier, near to Glenridding for example, on the whole this lake is serene and in parts, really accessible.

I head towards the more northern section of the lake where there is a number of laybys right beside the lake making it ideal for getting changed and making a quick pit stop for a dip.

As a family we often pop to Ullswater to have a mess around in the water but one day in particular will stick in my mind for a long time.

The sky was a deep grey with clouds rolling low over neighbouring hills. We arrived at the car park and managed a quick change into wetsuits and over the road before the clouds burst. What seemed like the heaviest rain I have experienced in a LONG time added to the atmosphere being surrounded by nothing but nature and all the elements.

What followed next was a little beyond my comfort zone- an intense rumble of thunder and a crack of lightening. It seemed like the heavens were communicating straight with me! Needless to say us and our inflatable unicorn exited the water and stood on the small rocky beach watching the rain bound into the lake.

With each break in the thunder and lightening we jumped straight back in, wetter from standing in the rain than swimming in the lake- apart from the ducks, we had the entire place to ourselves.

Every experience we have in Ullswater has been so different but the fundamentals are still so important;

• Never go in alone
• Consider the water temperature, even on the warmest days some water will still be very cold.
• Wear suitable clothing and protection
• Know your limits in terms of how far you can swim but also how long you want to be in the water for.
• Be aware of hidden risks which could be submerged such as litter or fishing wire/hooks.
• Consider water quality/pollution and blue-green algae.

While the warm summer day dips are beautiful, there is something that feels more raw and natural about swimming in a lake in the rain. If you haven’t yet tried it, I would urge you to kick off your shoes, roll your trousers up and step in.