Express & Star

In Pictures: Swimmers take the plunge for bracing Christmas Day dip

Swimmers from across the country, including Edinburgh, took to the water.

Published
Swimmers pose in the sea at Felixstowe, Suffolk

Swimmers have turned their backs on a roaring fire at home to take part in Christmas Day dips across the UK.

A dog wearing a Christmas jumper on the beach
A dog wearing a Christmas jumper runs along the sand at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh (Andrew Milligan/PA)
A swimmer takes a Christmas Day dip at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh
A swimmer takes a Christmas Day dip at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Despite snow falling in parts of Scotland, many were determined to take the plunge in Edinburgh.

A swimmer takes a Christmas Day dip
Swimmers tried to forget the chill as they took a Christmas Day dip (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Swimmers dry off by a fire after taking a Christmas Day dip
Swimmers dry off by a fire after taking a Christmas Day dip at a beach in Edinburgh (Andrew Milligan/PA)
A man running in a Santa hat on  a beach
Santa ditched some of his costume for a Christmas Day dip (Andrew Milligan/PA)
A swimmer takes a Christmas Day dip
The sea was quite bracing in Edinburgh (Andrew Milligan/PA)

People dressed up for the occasion at the beach in Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Swimmers in fancy dress run into the sea at Felixstowe
Swimmers in fancy dress run into the sea at Felixstowe (Joe Giddens/PA)
Swimmers Perry Springate and Chris Johnson dressed as clowns for their Christmas dip
Swimmers Perry Springate and Chris Johnson dressed as clowns for their Christmas dip (Joe Giddens/PA)
People in fancy dress on a beach
At least the penguin would not have been put off by the cold weather (Joe Giddens/PA)
Swimmers in fancy dress pose in the sea at Felixstowe
Swimmers in fancy dress pose in the sea at Felixstowe (Joe Giddens/PA)
A woman takes a paddle
The main swim was cancelled at Felixstowe due to adverse weather conditions (Joe Giddens/PA)

Not to be outdone by swimmers from elsewhere in the country, an intrepid few took to the water in the North East.

Christmas swim 2021
The swimmers cheer after the bracing Christmas Day dip at Tynemouth Beach (Owen Humphreys/PA)
A woman walks along the beach
Dressed for the occasion… a woman walks along the beach (Joe Giddens/PA)
Christmas swim 2021
Swimmers take part in a Christmas Day dip at Exmouth, Devon (Ben Birchall/PA)
Christmas swim 2021
(Ben Birchall/PA)
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