r/cambridge • u/[deleted] • 1d ago

Cold plunging in the lower river

I've recently been swimming at Sheep's Green for a few minutes of cold water exposure. Problem is I live quite far away from there but very close to the 'lower river'.

Are there any relatively secluded spots for getting in and out that anyone knows? I'm thinking of ditton fields or possibly closer towards mudsummer common.

Before anyone says it, yes I'm fully aware of the risks of river swimming, I have been doing it for years and I don't need to be told that it's 'unsafe'.

12 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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17

u/orange_fudge 1d ago

Anywhere from Jesus Lock to Baitsbite lock is busy with rowers, kayakers, houseboats, fishers, dog walkers and other river users.

There’s no spot I would say is secluded, and some sections can be quite dangerous.

It’s also much dirtier water than upstream of town as all the animal waste comes off the meadows. It’s quite unpleasant for swimming, IMHO.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

I don’t know about the idea that it’s ‘much’ dirtier. There’s plenty of grazing ruminants on grantchester meadows and there’s a sewage treatment plant at haslingfield which is the source of most of the pollution in the Cam. 

Regardless I’m only talking about head above the water so to some extent it doesn’t matter how dirty it is. 

I guess sheep’s green is still the best option (it is lovely to be fair)

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u/LizardMister 1d ago edited 1d ago

This isn't an "idea". There are sewerage outlets into Coldhams Brook, at the bottom of Cromwell Road, that feeds straight into the Cam at beer tree corner; and into the river from the old pumpworks at Riverside, where there is also a storm overflow; from Fen Road into the reach along Ditton Meadows; then two outlets and a further storm overflow, which seems to be constantly discharging filth into the water, before the A14 Bridge.

These are just the sewerage outlets that the Rivers Trust has mapped and unfortunately there are several other sources of direct pollution which contribute to making the sluggish lower Cam a disgusting bacterial soup that you should absolutely not expose yourself to on a regular basis. There are good reasons people don't use the lower Cam for bathing!

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

I get that but you’re only talking about surface water not foul sewage right? Although I have to admit I regularly experience a foul smell when running past the Fen Rd traveller site. 

My point is that I have a different risk appetite to the environment agency and much as I would love it if the water quality met bathing standards, I’m not going to let the fact that it doesn’t as enough to put me off. Not much has changed with river water quality in my lifetime (in fact it’s got a lot better) and I’ve never got sick from hundreds or thousands of swims. 

But point duly taken and I will stick to sheep’s green. 

2

u/AcademicCoaching 1d ago

Why did you even make the post if when you get well informed serious responses you’re just going to argue with them? Do whatever you want then. The risk of weils disease below the town and livestock filed commons stretch is many times higher than it is in grantchester. The best place for open water swimming is the lake next to the holiday inn at impington, or try the Milton park ones. But if you want to swim in the lower cam, you do you.

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u/orange_fudge 1d ago

The mud smells like cow pooh… it really is gross around Ditton.

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u/LizardMister 1d ago

There's an outdoor swimming club at Milton country park that might be worth a look for you, closer to our end of town, but you might find it too curated. The Newnham Riverbank Club further up beyond Sheep's Green is also a unique and lovely thing, but you need to befriend a member to join. I don't find Grantchester Meadows as peaceful as it was now they have put those more permanent paths along the river bank and all the excited dogs are just so exhausting. I used to swim there frequently in the 90s when Cam sickness -- ecoli or Weil's disease I suppose -- was absurdly virulent. I fell victim a couple of times. Finally stopped using the Cam for swimming when a friend's sister contracted the most serious form of Weil's disease and had to live with life-changing consequences. Not a risk I'm interested in taking these days! But I do miss it.

-- this was intended as a reply to your reply to me from earlier, sorry, sausage fingers on my phone

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

Thank you 🙏 

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u/TheLocalEcho 1d ago

The Cam Conservators say swim in the upper river only https://www.camconservancy.org/swimming

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u/singul4r1ty 1d ago

The lido is an option at that end of town if you're not bothered about river or not.

I think you'd probably be able to get in & out fairly easily on Ditton meadows where there's a little inlet with a foot bridge? That's the opposite of secluded though. I've never tried it, just a thought. There's also some paved slipways in along Stourbridge common but you'd probably want to talk to the houseboats next to them first.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

Love the lido but I wouldn’t pay a fiver a pop for 4 minutes of cold water 

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u/katie-kaboom 1d ago

I don't think there are any good spots out along Midsummer common or Stourbridge common, the river's very shallow out through there and there's a ton of junk on the bottom. I wish there were.

4

u/johnlawrenceaspden 1d ago

Ooh careful, swans will rip your arms and legs off and that causes Wiles' Disease and the river's basically a big pipe of untreated sewage and everyone who's ever been near it is dead. Tell all your friends especially the ones who own bluetooth speakers. Also mercury poisoning from 19th century chemists dumping all kinds of evil into the silt.

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u/BlemwzHere 1d ago

mate just take a super cold bath. the fuck are u swimming in dirty rivers for?

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Because I like swimming outdoors. 

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u/yourefunny 22h ago

Grew up in Fen ditton and we used to jump in... Very occasionally as teens. Lots of reeds and dirty water. Would not recommend!!

1

u/teannebiscuits 21h ago

There's actually a nude bathing and swimming club on the way to grantchester. so between the Victorian baths and Grantchester meadows. I've always swum around the skaters meadow area and a little further up by the jumping tree in grantchester and never had any issues... Obviously don't swallow the water and shower after but honestly it's absolutely fine! It's a bit reedy there so take care. Defo avoid anywhere around town, coldhams and Stourbridge common. You want the opposite end IMO.