Calum Hudson - London, England
Most swimmers seek warm water to swim in and compete. But Calum sees swimming as a way to connect to things which mean the most to him. It strengthens the bonds of family and friends through shared experiences and the collective joy of adventures in nature. It reconnects Calum with the natural world and the animals with which we share the planet. And finally it drives his physical and mental being, the cold water sharpens and hones his mind while the currents and waves toughen and harden his body. Swimming offers him the perfect way to combine all of his passions into his lifestyle, each day this aquatic pilgrimage continues as he seeks the water more and more.
Enjoy Calum’s story
“Swimming has been an immense source of joy, given me a profound sense of purpose and meaning. It enmeshes with all aspects of my other passions and weaves my various interests together into one prism. It combines adventure, exercise, the natural world, travel, wild animals and family.
“It has taken me to locations I never thought I’d go and been a huge positive font of creativity.
“I am the Middle Brother of the Wild Swimming Brothers. Alongside my little brother Jack (28) and big brother Robbie (32) we have been going on swimming expeditions for the last 6 years.
“Swimming wasn’t really a sport or a competitive pursuit for me. It was fun and a way to immerse myself in nature, a way to enjoy the outdoors.
“It was an adventure with friends and a way to explore and satisfy our curiosity.
“Mum and Dad sent me and my two brothers (Jack, 2 years younger and Robbie one year older) to swimming lessons, when I was four or five years old. At the same time they encouraged us to enjoy the outdoors, to love nature. Since then, swimming, and especially swimming outdoors has been a big part of me, of our family lifestyle.
“As a toddler I would go and seek out puddles to leap in and splash around. I just absolutely loved the feeling of being in water, but my earliest swimming lesson memories are of being at the Penrith Swimming Club program, as well as having a few lessons from Mum. My other early memories are swimming in the River Eden, Cumbria, in the English Lake District.
“Along the banks of the River Eden is a place called Lacy Caves, just past Little Salkeld. I remember finishing school on a hot summer’s day and racing there on bikes with my brothers and friends. We used to jump off ‘The Tower’, a 20ft stack of rocks into the river below. Some of my happiest days were spent jumping, diving and flipping off these rocky ledges into the cool water of the river, and building bonfires in the old stone caves carved into the rock. Jumping from The Tower was a rite of passage we enjoyed well into our teens.
“But there were more adventures ahead. I remember hearing stories on the school bus from the older kids about jumping off a 40ft vertical drop into the Eden: the mighty Armathwaite Cliff. One day I would join them! With my brothers and a group of friends, we took the train from Langwathby to near the river, trekking the banks until we slipped into the water and floated downstream, dipping our head to swim among the reeds. We crept close to a heron fishing on the river banks, we saw a kingfisher and an otter. These beautiful creatures watched us swimming down the river before drifting off into their own wild worlds.
“Eventually we reached the cliff and swam onto the riverbank. We climbed our way to the top of the cliff, clambering over rocks, tree trunks and hauled our way up.
“I looked down at the Eden flowing past 40ft below, gathered my breath and took the big step off.
“The Eden raced up towards me and I burst into the water with a loud splash, bubbles fizzing around me as I flew down into the green murky watery world. I knew this jump had transported me to a simpler time when the joy of being outdoors was a way of life. I flipped onto my back and let the water lap around me, its cool embrace cradling the need for adventure that dwelled within.
“For me, swimming was always a way to enjoy the outdoors. It was adventures with friends and a way to explore and satisfy our curiosity, sparking a desire to find more adventure, taking us to wonderfully isolated places right across the world.
“To date, with my brothers, our swims include:
Crossings of the world’s 3 most powerful maelstroms (Corryvreckan, Saltstraumen and Moskstraumen).
A nine-day 90-mile River Eden swim, from source to mouth. Day one started on August 15th from Hell Gill with a 18.5km leg. Day nine, 11km, was from Rockcliffe to Soleway Firth.
“For this adventure we had our childhood friend James Silson along playing the part of a support kayaker who also carried our food, drink and whisky. At the end of each day our Dad, the support car driver, would arrive with all of our camping equipment. We'd pitch the tents, get the stove out and tuck into dinner. 10 miles a day sure works up an appetite.
“The next goal was then to find the nearest local pub and sample the local ale. It might sound counter-productive but a good pint of ale does wonders for settling the stomach after chomping down miles of river water!
A swim the length of Loch Broom. 5 hours in 13 degree water.
A crossing of the Turkish Hellespont, from Europe to Asia. 4.5km distance.
Escape from Alcatraz swim (San Francisco. 2 miles)
and an Ice 1k. A one kilometre swim in water with a temperature of 5degrees or less. Swim suit, cap and goggles only.
“We’ve also roped in our mum, who has become the honorary Wild Swimming Mother.
“I usually have one or two individual challenges each year. Last year it was to swim a Ice Kilometre and the 16k Malaysia Perhentian Island Swim. This year it is an Ice Mile but we will see how that goes with the COVID-19 impacts across the UK. We also usually have a Wild Swimming Brother Expedition each year.
“As brothers we are aiming to become the first people to swim the Maelstrom 7 of which three are already completed. Four more to go! One in New Zealand, Japan, Canada and the USA, so plenty more adventures ahead for the Wild Swimming Brothers.”
Why do these swims, Calum?
“We aim to promote wild swimming, conservation and the link between creativity and the outdoors.
“I enjoy lots of marathon swims and short swimming events. If it looks fun, and the swim is in a beautiful location then I’m in! The sense of community and comradery you feel, as well as the snapshot into a different culture are experiences I embrace. I have no desire to win or beat anyone, I just absolutely love the communal feeling of swimming in a huge group.”
Calum, share a couple of your best swimming memories?
“My favourite memories of swimming are a kaleidoscope of beautiful locations. From childhood swims on windswept Scottish beaches to coming face to face with Whale Sharks in the Philippines. But my favourite swimming memory is a very recent one.
“Mum turned 60 back in May 2020, but due to COVID19 and lockdown we were unable to celebrate her birthday as initially planned. However when Basking Shark Scotland was able to safely re-open their trips at the end of summer we leapt at the chance to swim with these beautiful sharks, and celebrate mum’s birthday at the same time.
“Basking sharks are the 2nd largest fish in the world and peaceful ocean giants.
“We headed out to the beautiful island of Coll off the west coast of Scotland and crossed our fingers and toes.
“On day one, after hours of searching, our captain located some sharks feeding on a plankton bloom. The finger and toes crossing had worked. The ship crew dropped us right in the middle of the sharks lunch and out of the darkness loomed a huge white mouth, the Basking Shark swam right past, only a couple of metres separating us from its huge gaping jaws. “Bloody hell that looks a hell of a lot like a Great White”. It doesn’t matter how much you KNOW that they only eat plankton you still feel the sense of awe when a 7m shark moves towards you out of the gloom.
“Over the next few days we dived into a huge bait ball of Mackerel, watched Gannets dive bombing into the water, saw Puffins, Common Dolphins, Eurasian Otters, Minke Whales, Grey Seals, Common Seals, Lion's Mane Jellyfish and even the rare Risso’s Dolphin.
“We felt incredibly lucky to see so many wonderful animals right in our very own Scottish waters.”
Adventure swimming since I was young has remained important
I like to swim five to six times per week, mainly at the Brockwell Lido in London, a 50m outdoor unheated pool which I absolutely love. I especially love the cold water, even better when the temperature is sub-10 degrees C.
“My professional life as ‘head of sales’ with Eventbrite live events has me craving my swims each week, where I can rejuvenate my mental and physical health. Swimming to me is for fun, adventure and meaning . . . and to earn the right to call myself a ‘Wild Swimming Brother’.”
Do you receive any coaching for your swimming Calum? Do you have favourite swims sets or sessions?
“No, I have not had a coach since my first set of swimming lessons as a young kid. I think in part because I enjoy swimming itself too much. To focus on technique may take away some of the pure enjoyment I gain from simply swimming. Also, I’ve never had a desire to win races or significantly improve my time. I swim for enjoyment and as a challenge. In saying that I also believe that I would be a coach's nightmare if I received any coaching now, as I would have developed a significant number of habits over the years, which would make a coach weep!
“My weekly swims are repetitive, swimming the same distance almost every time. A simple 1 mile which is generally a non-stop swim. I judge my pace depending on how I’m feeling within myself each day. A simple formula which works for me and fulfils my needs.”
When in London, what places would you recommend a visitor take a swim?
“First stop would be Brockwell Lido, I have lived close by, 5 minutes away for the last 8 years in London. It’s my Mecca and keeps me sane in an urban environment. It even has a wood-fired sauna for the winter months. The sauna acts as a giant magnet pulling all of the swimmers into its steamy embrace. Footsteps can often be seen in the snow through its window. Swimming here in winter has created a small, yet vibrant community at the pool. There are only a few people in the local area who are willing to go to an unheated outdoor pool in winter. It is often snowing as we dive into 2 degree water. No wetsuits, only swimsuit, swim cap and goggles. It’s a fantastic feeling. We have all overcome the apprehension of an ice swim and can revel in our collective and shared joy while the steam from the sauna warms our trembling and icy hands.
“My other favourite London swimming spot is Hampstead Ponds. Three large outdoor ponds (small lakes if you will). One each for men only (including a diving board), ladies only and one for mixed. This is a great spot to break away from the urban chaos of central London.”
Where are the best places you have swum and recommend to others?
“Swimming has taken me to many locations around the world.
“Lake Kawaguchiko in Japan, which sits in the shadow of Mt Fuji, is by far the most breathtaking place I’ve ever swum.
“Closely followed are locations such as Semuc Champey in Guatemala, the Rio Caroni in Venezuela and Byblos in Lebanon.”
Tell us about Calum and Aquaman
“I am an avid collector of Aquaman comics. I’m actually the largest owner in the UK. I have the entire collection dating back to 1962. Every single comic. It’s over 700 comics. Aquaman and the ocean go hand in hand though, so it’s a natural fit for me to enjoy both.
“I’m also very passionate about travel, ancient history, animals and writing satire. For the future I hope to continue spending as much time as possible doing the things I love with the people I love.”
It is clear that you have a deep connection with swimming Calum
“For me, swimming is a way to reconnect with the natural world. The water, and especially the cold water, is a conduit to a better relationship with nature.
“Swimming is best when shared, the look of joy on other peoples faces when you share incredible swims is by far the most important part of it all. What’s the point if you don’t enjoy it?”
Editor: I highly recommend investing 7 minutes of your time to watch Swim Wild
