10 Hot Tips for Cool Adventures

Embrace the heat this summer with wild swims, SUP trips, coasteering, and trail runs—plus safety tips to stay cool.

You cannot escape it, Britain has been basking in the sun this summer. Whether you’re trail running through scorched fells or trying not to melt into your saddle, staying cool outdoors has become a survival skill for a nation used to reaching for a brolly.

We can't beat the heat, it looks like it is sticking around for a bit, so we’ve rounded up 10 ways to cool down your adventures this summer. It starts on the water.

Now a word of caution before we get carried away. Swimming or paddling in open water does come with its dangers. Water for all of its beauty isn't very forgiving to errors and issues can escalate very quickly. We have a lot of safety advice on our site, and we have summarised it later in this post.

Now let's continue with our Hot Tips for Cool Adventures.

1. An outdoor swim wake-up call

There’s no caffeine hit like a 6am dunk. Whether it’s a mountain tarn, a meandering river or a plunge pool, a dawn dip cuts through the muggy madness of a heatwave. Early morning water is cool, calm, and crowd-free.

Keep your swim kit packed. A towel, trunks, and a flask of coffee = happiness in a drybag. Next level is to get yourself a wetsuit. This year we introduced the perfect suits for short, refreshing dips in the water. Our Tarka Wetsuit wetsuit is a shorty, easy to get into with enough freedom for both swimming, paddling a SUP or a Swim-Run.

Tarka is going to appeal to you if you don't want the faff of a full length wetsuit, and made from natural rubber it hasn't got less environmental impact than a neoprene suit.

Our female swimmers have an additional option, our Straven swimsuit offers even greater freedom of movement, but still provides a layer of insulation so you can stay in the water longer.

2. Create your own SUP adventure

SUP is short for Stand Up Paddleboard. In its simplest terms a SUP is a floating platform you power along with an extended paddle. Now, this may conjure up images of Venetians dressed in wide-brimmed straw hats, gracefully steering slender boats through a maze of canals. Or you may be having flash backs to getting your pole stuck while avoiding tourists on the river Cam, but no, I plead with you to not go down that rabbit hole.

SUPs are modern tech built for adventures. They are light, agile, inflatable, portable, accessible and colourful.

Load up your SUP, lash down a drybag, and follow the river downstream. Glide through overhanging willows, spot kingfishers and take the occasional dip along the way.

As previously highlighted Tarka is a perfect wetsuit for the SUP, but as SUPing doesn't necessarily mean full immersion you do have other options for what you can wear paddleboarding.

You will also want to keep any kit dry. The Gourdon 20L keeps your gear bone dry, and a BruKit all in one stove means you can brew riverside if the pub’s shut.

If you are feeling adventurous and wanting to escape the heat of your bedroom why not turn your SUP trip into a SUP camping adventure and enjoy sleeping in the cool evening air. You will feel refreshed in the morning.

3. A fully immersive trail run

So far our suggestions have been pretty conventional. Nothing wrong with that but now we are going to throw in a stretch goal. It's called swimrun.

Sit down and take a breath, I was the same. Unless duathlon is your bag nothing could have been further from your mind, but this portmanteau-style expression is indeed a blended activity that has evolved into a recognised passtime.

Blending trail running and outdoor swimming, it’s not about racing or records, but about adventure, resilience, and discovering what you’re capable of. You don’t need to be a pro; just find your curiosity, a bit of prep, and a love of wild places.

Practitioners have of course taken the activity to extremes, The Frog Graham Round is perhaps the the most inspiring—and surprising example of this - but you can create more accessible—challenges closer to your comfort zone. What beter way to cool down mid run?

You just need your running kit and swimming kit - a shorty wetsuit like the Tarka or the Element two-piece wetsuit will be light to carry, easy to get on and off and provide core warmth in chilly mountain lakes.

Before we continue let's dive into the safety briefing.

Water safety

As tempting as it is to dive straight into the cool of the pool let’s keep our heads and make it safe as well as fun. Here’s what you need to know before leaping into the sea, river, lake or tarn:

Cold water shock is real

Even on a hot day, water in the UK can be cold enough to shock your body. A sudden drop in temperature can cause your body to gasp involuntarily, mess with your breathing, and increase risk of panic. Always enter slowly and let your body adjust. For more advice read our post 10 Tips for Wild Swimming Safety

Don’t jump in blind

We have all seen those swimming pool posters; no bombing, no heavy petting (or did I just make that one up). Do not just dive, belly flop or bomb unless you know what is under the surface. Rivers shift, obstacles move. Enter feet-first and scout your exit point before you get in.

Avoid fast-flowing water and artificial hazards

We love a good current, but strong flow and hidden snags aren’t worth the risk. Stick to still water unless you’ve got experience and a safety crew who know what they are doing. Scout ahead, make sure you know what is coming up and portage around hazards.

Swim with a buddy

Always better together. Besides being more fun, they’re your safety net if anything goes wrong.

Find a local guide

Activities like coasteering take place in wild places with strong currents, changeable weather and difficult access points. We strongly recommend you find a local guide to take you out and provide you with the correct equipment. It is a great way to learn the ropes, understand the dangers and find the best spots.

Use the right kit

A wetsuit like the Tarka natural rubber wetsuit gives you buoyancy and warmth. A bright swim cap or tow float makes you more visible to others (and the odd duck).

If you are taking out a SUP you should read our tips on how to make your SUP adventure safer.

SUP safety

Just in case you didn't click the link above here are some quick safety pointers.

• Plan your trip and do your own risk assessment
• Wear the correct safety equipment: buoyancy aid and leash
• If you are in a group plan for the weakest member

Advice for aquaphobes

We get it, not everyone likes to take a plunge, so here are some ideas on how to stay cool and dry.

4. Bike: Ride high, stay cool

Swap the tarmac for breezy hill trails. Forest fire roads and shaded ridge routes keep you moving when the valley floor’s roasting.

5. Run: End your trail run with a dip

Stick to shaded trails, run early, and leave a tinny cooling in a stream for the finish. Swap out your running shorts for some swimming shorts so you are ready to go.

6. Climb: Climb in the shadows

You don't have to skulk around like Gollum but Mid summer is a great time to seek out those esoteric crags that are inhospitable and unclimbable at other times of the year. Target those North-facing crags or start early and get off before the sun reaches it zenith.

7. Camp: Pitch high, sleep cooler

Camp higher, altitude is a natural aircon and the midges hate it. The temperature can drop by up to 1 degrees every 100 metres.

8. Freeze your flask

Insulated flasks are not just good at keeping your drinks hot they can keep them cool as well. Fill them with ice and enjoy a refreshingly cool drink when you need it.

9. Midnight microadventures

If one half of the day is too hot use the other half.  Headtorch trail runs or moonlit gravel loops bring a new perspective to trails you already know well.

10. Loafing about

Sometimes the best thing you can do is to do nothing at all. Get an icecream, string up a hammock, pour yourself a lemonade and put on the Amon Tobin. Just enjoy the downtime.

How to protect yourself from the sun

Even if you are not going near water there are some things you need to do to protect yourself from that giant fireball in the sky.

Protect your skin, don’t fry yourself

UV rays don’t care how “outdoorsy” you are. If you’re out all day, sunscreen is essential kit.

Suncreams come with ratings. SPF 30 is a good starting point, anything lower and you’re basically cooking. Reapply every couple of hours—more if you’re swimming or sweating buckets. If you have sensitive skin, or you just don't know bump it up to SPF 50.

Cloudy, am I safe? No, UV gets through clouds. Don’t get caught out on overcast days thinking you’re safe. Your skin will remind you the next morning.

Turning up for work looking like a strawberry is not a cool look. Ears, nose, back of the neck, tops of feet—these get fried first and hurt the worst later. Don't forget to get the cream on these areas. Using a small makeup brush is an effective way of getting good coverage without getting your fingers sticky - handy if you are climbing.

Seek shade where you can, and if there isn't any create your own. A lightweight UV-protective top and a cap with a peak or flap goes a long way. The Koulin cap or Reni bucket hat = shaded, breathable bliss.

If you are setting up camp along the waterside then a lightweight tarp can be a great way to create a temporary shady shelter.

Protect your eyes with Cat 3 polarised UV rated sunglasses

Your eyes soak up a load of UV too, especially if you are on the water or up at altitude. Grab a pair of Spectre or Wave sunglasses — lightweight, grippy, and Cat 3 rated for full sun days. No more squinting your way through a hike or paddle.

Dive Deeper – Books, Guides & Courses

• Swim Wild – Adventures from the Wild Swimming Brothers
• Wild Swimming – Britain’s secret river and lake spots
• Wild Swimming - France – Dreamy escapes for the summer holidays
• Swell – One woman’s fight for swimming freedom
• Wild Swimming: Hidden Beaches - Dive through rock arches and snorkel with Dolphins

Introduction to watersports at the Big Shakeout

Every year we run courses for people looking to improve their skills or try something new.

• Intro to Wild Swimming – Guided plunge + hike in Peak District
• Stand-Up Paddleboarding Basics – Calm water confidence building
• Sit-On-Top Kayaking Intro – A fun, safe start to paddling
• Open Canoe Reservoir Safari – Wildlife, water, and wide smiles

You don't have to wait until September. We run similar courses from our stores all year round. Find out if there is a School of Adventure course happening near you and level up your confidence to enjoy these sports in safety.

Enjoy your summer and stay cool

With these tips you are all set to make the most of the long sultry summer days. And if you can't bare the thought of leaving the brolly at home, an umbrella makes a mean sun shade. Old habits die hard.