1 Red Tarn , Cumbria I ’ ve snorkelled this small lake in the Lake District a number of times since my first outing in 2009 . I ’ ve done it once on a summer ’ s day and twice in a blizzard – and one of those was at midnight . Despite the topside conditions , the landscape is incredible , with the Helvellyn mountain range nearby . The scattered remains of an old Mosquito aircraft which crashed and sank in 1940 provide an interesting bonus for those that can find it .
2 Loch Coire an Lochan , Scotland Depending on one ’ s definition this is Britain ’ s highest lake and therefore its highest altitude snorkel . The Cairngorm scenery is impressive , and Loch Coire an Lochan nestles in the hills with its bright blue , shallow waters , located in a small coire below the UK ’ s third highest mountain .
3 Windermere , Lake District The visibility is rarely more than a few metres , but I have found the lake to be full of small life , relatively non-aggressive swans , easy access to the water and plenty of cafés and pubs to warm up in afterwards .
4 High Force , Teesdale A waterfall pool rather than a lake or loch . The weather is almost irrelevant here as the cliff walls provide shelter from the wind and even huge rainfall only causes the falls to be more impressive and , as long as one keeps a sensible distance , no less safe . It is quite unique to meander around the lower parts of the pool , often spotting money people seeking wishes have tossed in , to look up and see High Force thundering away close by .
5 Loch Ness , Scotland It ’ s cold . Very cold . And the foreboding blackness of the water only adds to the foreboding nature of this place , where history has proven the imagination can run riot . Did I mention it ’ s cold ? Nevertheless , to set out from Urquhart Castle into these peaty waters , with thoughts of monsters and myth swirling around your head is quite an experience . Once . I would definitively have it on your snorkel-tick-list , if you happen to be passing by . But I ’ m not sure I ’ ll ever venture out there again . After all ... �
But before I delve into my Top Five , a few words of caution on temperature and safety . As cold as the sea around Britain can get in winter , it is surpassed in severity by our freshwater bodies . Their relatively smaller size means they are more rapidly affected by the lower air temperatures . Some lakes , ponds and pools will ice over in winter , but even those that remain diveable can be only one or two degrees above freezing . So , we really do need to consider keeping ourselves warm before and after our snorkel , how long we spend in there and what thermal protection we wear while pottering about in the water . This might mean those sites which require a longer walk out in a wet wetsuit may have to be left for warmer times .
So , here are my favourites . These may not be the most impressive visually or the easiest to reach , but they are all fresh water pool and lakes I have visited in winter and are some of my most memorable .
Timorous beastie , Loch Ness
Part of the plane wreck in Red Tarn
1 Red Tarn , Cumbria I ’ ve snorkelled this small lake in the Lake District a number of times since my first outing in 2009 . I ’ ve done it once on a summer ’ s day and twice in a blizzard – and one of those was at midnight . Despite the topside conditions , the landscape is incredible , with the Helvellyn mountain range nearby . The scattered remains of an old Mosquito aircraft which crashed and sank in 1940 provide an interesting bonus for those that can find it .
2 Loch Coire an Lochan , Scotland Depending on one ’ s definition this is Britain ’ s highest lake and therefore its highest altitude snorkel . The Cairngorm scenery is impressive , and Loch Coire an Lochan nestles in the hills with its bright blue , shallow waters , located in a small coire below the UK ’ s third highest mountain .
3 Windermere , Lake District The visibility is rarely more than a few metres , but I have found the lake to be full of small life , relatively non-aggressive swans , easy access to the water and plenty of cafés and pubs to warm up in afterwards .
4 High Force , Teesdale A waterfall pool rather than a lake or loch . The weather is almost irrelevant here as the cliff walls provide shelter from the wind and even huge rainfall only causes the falls to be more impressive and , as long as one keeps a sensible distance , no less safe . It is quite unique to meander around the lower parts of the pool , often spotting money people seeking wishes have tossed in , to look up and see High Force thundering away close by .
The actual colour of the water under Britain ’ s Highest Lake , Loch Coire an Lochan
5 Loch Ness , Scotland It ’ s cold . Very cold . And the foreboding blackness of the water only adds to the foreboding nature of this place , where history has proven the imagination can run riot . Did I mention it ’ s cold ? Nevertheless , to set out from Urquhart Castle into these peaty waters , with thoughts of monsters and myth swirling around your head is quite an experience . Once . I would definitively have it on your snorkel-tick-list , if you happen to be passing by . But I ’ m not sure I ’ ll ever venture out there again . After all ... �
For more information on snorkelling with BSAC go to bsac . com / snorkelling Looking to introduce snokelling into your club ? Find out more at bsac . com / snorkellinginstructor
Having fun in the snow and hail at Loch Coire an Lochan
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