Natasha Sones – Wild Swimming, SUP Adventures and Writing Swimming Wild in London and South East England
Natasha is a year-round wild swimmer, qualified Stand-Up Paddleboarding instructor, freelance travel writer, and outdoor adventurer with a deep love of water in all its forms. Based in Suffolk, she is also a volunteer for the Bluetits Chill Swimmers and an Ordnance Survey Champion.
Natasha’s journey into the outdoors began early, swimming in the sea as a child, but like many people, her connection to sport and adventure faded during her 20s and 30s. It wasn’t until her 40s that she rediscovered the water, found her community, and stepped into a completely new chapter of adventure.
In this episode, Natasha shares how she went from feeling like she wasn’t “outdoorsy” to becoming immersed in wild swimming and paddle boarding, including getting involved with inclusive swimming communities, discovering cold water swimming, and building confidence in outdoor spaces. She opens up about being diagnosed as autistic in her 40s, and how understanding herself better helped her find her tribe and her confidence.
We also talk about her progression into Stand-Up Paddleboarding, from early lockdown experiments to completing endurance challenges such as the Race to the Castle, and preparing for a 162-mile coast-to-coast SUP journey across England. Natasha shares what it’s really like training around work and family life, the realities of cold water swimming, and why time on the water has become so important for her wellbeing.
Alongside her adventures, Natasha is also the author of the upcoming guidebook Swimming Wild in London and South East England, featuring 100 incredible swimming spots across beaches, rivers, lakes, lidos, and hidden wild locations.
Listen to this episode to hear how Natasha found confidence through cold water and community, why it’s never too late to become an adventurer, and how simple steps—like saying yes and asking for help—can open the door to a whole new way of living.
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Show notes
Who is Natasha
46 year old adventurer and Mum of three
Passionate year round wild swimmer, outdoor adventurer, and freelance travel writer with a deep love of all things water
Living in Suffolk
Swimming in the sea from a young age
Moving out to a small village into the countryside, which was 5 mins from the seaside
Not being involved in sports or the outdoors in her 20s and 30s
What changed in her 40s?
Making new friends when your older
Being shy when she was younger
Discovering she was autistic about 5 years ago
Finding the swimming and outdoorsy community
Feeling like she has found her tribe
Getting into paddle boarding during lockdown
Being introduced into wild swimming but not really enjoying it at first
Setting up a local group for The Bluetits
Joining the Adventure Queens and attending a camp out
Saying her adventure idea out loud for the first time
Applying for the Adventure Queens Grant
Wanting to paddle board in Finland and experience the endless summer
Not having any idea on how to plan her adventure
Working with Gee Jackson as her mentor
Feeling overwhelmed by all the advice out there in relation to multi-way adventures
Struggling to find advice about doing a multi-day adventure on SUP
Planning to visit 4/5 islands and how plans changed over time
Being worried about feeling lonely
Not thinking she was an outdoorsy person
The barriers for women to get into water sports
Becoming an ambassador for This Girl Can, Suffolk
Writing her first guide book about Wild Swimming - with Vertebrate Publishing
Common misconceptions about swimming in London
Why swimming in Canary Wharf is one of her favourite swim locations
How it works with access rights for swimming in England
The do’s and don'ts of getting into water
Why you always swim with a buddy
Entering into different events
What it feels like to swim in cold water
Deciding what challenge to do next
Following adventurers and outdoorsy people on social media
Doing the Race to the Castle - 25 mile paddleboarding race on the River Trent with a cut off time of 9 hours
Winter training and fitting training into her life
Working with an elite paddle board racer—Emily King
Why it was about time on the water
Using an ironing board instead of a standing desk
The next adventure and paddle boarding coast to coast across England (162 miles over 9/10 days). Going from Liverpool to Yorkshire
Being supported by RED Equipment
Meeting up with Jo Moseley
Fundraising for the Canal and River Trust
How to connect with Natasha and follow along with her adventures
Advice for other women who want to take their next step into adventure
Just try it, and if you’re unsure, ask for help
Follow people and get inspired
Social Media
Website: www.natashasoneseditorial.com
Instagram: @natashastarseeker
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