Norfolk and Suffolk both have some beautiful beaches, but depending on where in East Anglia you’re based, these can be a loooooong drive. When the weather’s warm and you fancy a swim, though, there are other options, with plenty of great places for wild swimming in Norfolk and Suffolk alike.
Here are three of the best places for wild swimming in Suffolk and Norfolk that we’ve found so far.
Knettishall Heath, Suffolk
Set on the Suffolk-Norfolk border, Knettishall Heath is an ancient breckland landscape that combines heathland, woodland and meadows beside the meanders of the Little Ouse. The main swimming area is often referred to as the “Red Arches”, because of its twin bridges, and has been a popular wild swimming site for decades.
There’s a shallow pool with a sloping “beach” area that makes accessibility easy, and the added bonus of a small weir that kids will love splashing around next to. Beside the pool, there’s plenty of grassy space where you can sit and soak up the sun, as well as picnic benches a little further back.
The presence of a large (RingGo) car park, a toilet block, a play area, a mobile cafe and ice cream van visits in the summer make Knettishall Heath one of the best-equipped wild swimming spots in East Anglia.
Read more about Knettishall Heath here.
Lynford Water, Norfolk
You’ll find Lynford Water just north-east of Mundford in Norfolk. These flooded gravel pits in the Wissey Valley offer a still-water swimming experience surrounded by trees and open grassland.
Forestry England says, “We do acknowledge there is open water swimming on site”, advising that swimmers do so at their own risk. With sandy “beaches” dotted around the lakes, it’s a beautiful spot for a swim: lovely and serene with a park-like feel.
There’s plenty of green space to enjoy out of the water, and there are some facilities, too. There’s a large car park (RingGo again) and a new mobile cafe at weekends and during school holidays. For toilets, walk through the car park to Lynford Arboretum on the other side – there’s a lovely cafe there, too (The Shepherd’s Baa) and I thoroughly recommend a wander around the arboretum itself while you’re there.
Santon Downham, Suffolk
We’re back to the Little Ouse again for our third wild swimming spot, which you’ll find at Santon Downham, tucked deep within Thetford Forest. While it’s the same river that flows through Knettishall Heath, this place has a totally different feel: surrounded by dense forest and enjoying the river itself, rather than a shallow pool.
Park at St Helen’s Picnic Site (another RingGo car park) and enter the water near the footbridge. Some choose to swim upstream before drifting back with the current, and others choose to enjoy a gentle paddle by the riverbank. It’s a popular spot with paddleboarders, too. Generally, the river is slow-flowing and shallow, but look out for submerged obstacles and sudden changes in depth.
Facilities here are simpler: the car park and plenty of space for picnics. For toilets, you’ll need to head into the village of Santon Downham itself, where you’ll find public facilities within the car park.
The village is also home to seasonal tea garden, Brew & Bloom, which is open from Friday to Sunday for drinks and cakes in a gorgeous setting – the perfect way to refuel after a wild swim!
Family-friendly river pools, calm lakes, secluded forests…there’s something for everyone when it comes to wild swimming in East Anglia. As always, though, with wild swimming, remember that conditions can be variable: check water levels, be mindful of hidden hazards and never underestimate cold water. With the right precautions, though, you’ll discover some of the area’s most beautiful spots to cool down on a hot day.