North Frodingham to Bethel’s Bridge
On the OS map this looks a little over 3 miles of very meandering, gentle water. Mike had jogged it and announced that it was swimable with no significant dangers including swans. (I might say here that an early season swim below Bethel’s Bridge when the cygnets were small resulted in a spectacular attack on Mike which could have been very nasty for anyone made of lesser stuff. We all got out and found it very entertaining!)
A beautiful mid-week evening in July gave us the opportunity to leave a car at Bethel’s Bridge and drive around to North Frodingham and we thought near the source of the River Hull. Opposite the historic church in NF is a grassy car park and bank with steps down into about a 3 foot deep, clear, still siding. In fact this ‘wharf’ was manmade and feeds into the River Hull a little further downstream.
In we leapt. It was cool enough for all 5 of us to get going. Immediately we were gliding along. At the first heads-up we were all thrilled with the clarity of the water, the fish and the support by surprised cattle. There was no turning back. The only way out was Bethel’s Bridge. We surged on and gradually the river widened as we joined the Hull River with other sidings coming in. In no time at all we saw the only landmark which was a metal bridge. This signalled less than 20 mins to home. We were going well and only just overhauled by a cruiser coming downstream. We raised a laugh from some fishermen before hauling ourselves out at Bethel’s Bridge in 58 mins. I might say that our friends the swans were flexing their wings a few yards away on the other side of bridge daring is to swim under it.
Mike had hot chocolate ready which went well before stopping in Brandesburton for some excellent fish n chips. We chose not to go in the Black Swan opposite, not that there is anything in a name!
It was a truly exhilarating swim and I recommend it to anyone who thinks that indoor swimming pools are fun and clean.
Having swum Bethel’s Bridge to Baswick Landing it now seems that the next challenge would be Frodingham to Baswick about 5 miles.
On the OS map this looks a little over 3 miles of very meandering, gentle water. Mike had jogged it and announced that it was swimable with no significant dangers including swans. (I might say here that an early season swim below Bethel’s Bridge when the cygnets were small resulted in a spectacular attack on Mike which could have been very nasty for anyone made of lesser stuff. We all got out and found it very entertaining!)
A beautiful mid-week evening in July gave us the opportunity to leave a car at Bethel’s Bridge and drive around to North Frodingham and we thought near the source of the River Hull. Opposite the historic church in NF is a grassy car park and bank with steps down into about a 3 foot deep, clear, still siding. In fact this ‘wharf’ was manmade and feeds into the River Hull a little further downstream.
In we leapt. It was cool enough for all 5 of us to get going. Immediately we were gliding along. At the first heads-up we were all thrilled with the clarity of the water, the fish and the support by surprised cattle. There was no turning back. The only way out was Bethel’s Bridge. We surged on and gradually the river widened as we joined the Hull River with other sidings coming in. In no time at all we saw the only landmark which was a metal bridge. This signalled less than 20 mins to home. We were going well and only just overhauled by a cruiser coming downstream. We raised a laugh from some fishermen before hauling ourselves out at Bethel’s Bridge in 58 mins. I might say that our friends the swans were flexing their wings a few yards away on the other side of bridge daring is to swim under it.
Mike had hot chocolate ready which went well before stopping in Brandesburton for some excellent fish n chips. We chose not to go in the Black Swan opposite, not that there is anything in a name!
It was a truly exhilarating swim and I recommend it to anyone who thinks that indoor swimming pools are fun and clean.
Having swum Bethel’s Bridge to Baswick Landing it now seems that the next challenge would be Frodingham to Baswick about 5 miles.
Thanks to Mike, Steve, Simon and Nina for a great evening swim.
Sean Bennett
