Lough Bray Lower in the Wicklow mountains, breathtaking in more ways than one

This is a superb winter-swim destination, with a perfect launch-pad of a rock half way along the path

We had icy swims from January to April, in the coppery, silky water. June too, and it was still freezing: I had worse shakes than in winter

It’s about 4-6 degrees C in January, and in later months it somehow feels even colder

The lough is a perfect mirror on the right day … when the sun chooses to shine. Take a hot drink! & sweet things

LOUGH BRAY

COUNTY WICKLOW

IRELAND