1 Waterfall country

Picture the scene: a gentle river stroll along pebble-carpeted shallows. Then the thunderous sounds of swooshing water, offset by happy shrieks. A parting through the trees and you've reached Lady Falls - a graceful column of foamy water set before a deep, clean emerald-green pool. This natural amphitheatre is a magical spot for sure-footed young swimmers, and one of the most beautiful to be found along Brecon Beacons' Waterfall Woods, near Pontneddfechan.

Set up camp at the little beach, dangle the drinks in the cooling waters, and let older children thrill to the fun of swimming beneath the fall.

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2 Best on the Test

The watercress-rich chalk streams of Hampshire's River Test offer beautiful dipping chances - especially for children. For stronger swimmers, River Itchen's Twyford Lock is a clean, near-circular, jumpable pool that locals have swum in for years. Or try Houghton on the Test, where families gather to picnic along a wide, white shingle bay, before paddling into a gloriously cool shallow pool, braided in early summer with water buttercups and crowsfoot.

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3 Sussex splash

Tangly tree-studded river banks flank Barcombe Mills, near Lewes, lending this River Ouse location a wonderfully bucolic atmosphere. Slow-amp;#35;moving water gives way to sudden weir-funnelled rushes - ideal for a steady-footed aquatic adventure. Up from the weir is an open grassy field, with long stretches of easy river access to calm, clean waters. Paddle, play pooh sticks (this is Winnie the Pooh country), then round off the day with supper at the family-friendly Royal Oak in Barcombe village.

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4 Swallows and Amazons

Uncork the ginger beer, keep a sharp lookout for Captain Flint, and set sail for Peel Island in Coniston Water - the inspiration for Ransome's Wildcat Island. Hire boats by the hour or day, then head to one of the coves for a splash on the beach at Peel Bay. At Brown Howe on Coniston's west side, there is an extensive grassy beach and even a car park. Able Seaman Titty wouldn't believe his eyes.

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5 Enchanting Exmoor

The River Barle is a delightful twisting waterway whose shallows attract keen paddlers, particularly around Tarr Steps. Stop off at the post office and pick up a fishing net or rubber rings. Then try your hand at catching minnows. Upriver, along a woodland path and under the footbridge, are deeper swims for older children. Tarr Farm Inn offers good food for hungry families.

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6 Surrey swims

Placid Frensham Great Pond, formed in the 13th century for fish breeding, is shallow, relatively warm and huge, with sandy beaches and buoyed-off far reaches to protect young families from its deeper areas. There is parking, a café, and a small museum that tells how the pond, a distinctive landmark for bombers, was drained during the Second World War.

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7 Wharfe wonderland

The Yorkshire Dales' River Wharfe is perfect for young families, with stepping stones and paddle-worthy shallows to be found around Burnsall and Appletreewick. Buy your paddle gear from Burnsall post office, then head for the scenically idyllic pebbly beaches below the knoll of Bolton Abbey. Fronting rolling wooded parkland and springy turf banks, this is a popular spot - so don't expect to enjoy a solitary splash.

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Read Wild Swimming, by Daniel Smart (Punk, £14.95), is a comprehensive guide to Britain's freshwater swimming spots

(www.wildswimming.co.uk)

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