Back to Derbyshire – Returning to Where It All Began

There are some places that just seem to call you back.

We've visited Derbyshire before and absolutely loved it, but one trip was never going to be enough. With so many rivers, reservoirs and hidden gems waiting to be explored, it felt like the perfect excuse to head back for another swimmy adventure. So, with one small suitcase each, a rucksack overflowing with swimming costumes, far too many snacks and of course, plenty of cake, we set off to see what else Derbyshire had waiting for us.

For me, though, this trip was about far more than finding new swim spots.

I spent my early years in Sheffield before moving to Derbyshire in my teens. I grew up in Hillsborough, just a stone's throw from Rivelin Valley with its cascading waterfalls, pools and streams and as a child I spent countless hours playing in the river, exploring the streams and splashing about in the dams. Back then it was simply what we did. Summer holidays meant scrambling over rocks, paddling through icy water and staying out until the light began to fade.

Rivelin Valley

When I moved to Derbyshire as a teenager, life changed. Swimming in rivers was replaced by school, work, friends and all the other things that seem so important at that age. I never imagined I'd return all these years later with a completely different appreciation for the very places I'd once taken for granted.

What I certainly never imagined was that, forty plus years later, I'd be returning to some of those same waters, deliberately seeking out the cold rivers that had shaped so many childhood memories. Life really does have a funny way of bringing you full circle.

The Peak District has a way of slowing you down. The hills seem to stretch on forever, dry stone walls weave across the landscape and almost every winding road hints at another stretch of water waiting to be discovered. Even though we'd visited before, every day brought somewhere new.

Some swims were peaceful and still, where the only sounds were birdsong and the gentle ripple of the water. Others left us grinning from ear to ear as we climbed out wondering why we'd never found them before. Every stop reminded us why we love wild swimming and why exploring new places never gets old.

But, as always, the swimming is only part of the adventure.

Anyone who knows us knows our trips are rarely straightforward! There was the usual hoisting each other over walls that probably weren't designed with swimmers or middle-aged women – in mind, debating whether this was definitely the right footpath (it usually wasn't!), laughing until our sides hurt over the silliest things and enjoying evenings filled with silly games, far too much food, homemade Piña Coladas and a rather impressive selection of snacks and cakes. To be fair, after all the walking and swimming we packed into each day, we never felt too guilty!

One of the things that really stood out on this trip was, once again, just how wonderful people can be.

Before we'd even set off, we'd asked for recommendations and advice on various wild swimming Facebook groups. As always, people were incredibly generous with their knowledge, sharing favourite swim spots, parking tips and local advice that made all the difference.

Monsal Dale Weir

When we arrived, that kindness just kept coming. We stopped to ask locals for directions more than once and everyone was happy to help. One lovely lady even insisted we park on her driveway rather than struggle to find somewhere nearby.

Another day, we were flagged down by some youngsters who'd got a flat tyre. Armed with little more than a tyre iron and a willingness to help, we piled in and did our best to get them back on their way.

Then there were all those little moments that make wild swimming so special. Taking photos for other groups so everyone could capture their adventures, before they returned the favour and took ours. Stopping for chats with fellow swimmers we'd never met before, swapping favourite locations, sharing tips and hearing about hidden gems we'd have otherwise driven straight past. It never ceases to amaze me how friendly the wild swimming community is.

It doesn't matter where you come from, how long you've been swimming or whether you've travelled five minutes or five hours to get there. There's an instant connection. A shared love of cold water, beautiful places and the simple joy that comes from immersing yourself in nature.

One of the things I love most about revisiting somewhere is seeing it through different eyes. The places that felt enormous when I was a child now seem familiar in a different way, yet the feeling the water gives me hasn't changed at all.

The moment you step into cold water, your focus shifts. You're no longer thinking about work, the jobs waiting for you at home or the million and one things on your to-do list. It's just you, the water and the moment you're in.

By the end of the trip we'd explored more beautiful places, made more wonderful memories and once again, been reminded that these adventures are about so much more than ticking swims off a list.

They're about friendship.

They're about laughter.

They're about helping people when you can and accepting help when you need it.

They're about strangers becoming friends beside a river.

And they're about realising that the wild swimming community really is something rather special.

Derbyshire gave us everything we'd hoped for once again. Stunning scenery, crystal-clear water, plenty of adventures, countless laughs and a reminder that some places never lose their magic.

Agden Reservoir

If you've ever thought about revisiting somewhere from your childhood, I’d thoroughly recommend it. You might just discover that the places you loved all those years ago have been quietly waiting for you to return.

Happy swimming

Rachel x