
Last year hundreds more people took to the outdoors to swim and I know many of you are enjoying the exhilaration of this new adventure continuing through the winter. With the short daylight hours evening and night swimming has increased in popularity and a very special part of this are Moonlit swims, so below I have listed 2021’s full moon calendar – (times are for Ireland and UK).
Coinciding with a lunar eclipse this year, this moon represents renewal, cleansing and transformation, let the past wash away and set new goals.
*All times below are in GMT+1 (Greenwich Mean Time).*
FEBRUARY | 27TH 08:19 | Ice Moon |
MARCH | 28TH 18:50 | Storm Moon |
APRIL | 27TH 03:33 | Pink Moon |
MAY | 26TH 11:14 | Hare Moon |
JUNE | 24TH 18:40 | Strawberry Moon |
July | 24th 02:37 | Thunder Moon Or Buck Moon |
AUGUST | 22ND 12:02 | Hungry Ghosts Moon |
SEPTEMBER | 20TH 23:54 | Harvest Moon |
OCTOBER | 20TH 14:57 | Blood Moon |
NOVEMBER | 19TH 08:59 | Mourning Moon |
DECEMBER | 19TH 04:37 | Cold Moon |
SAFE SWIMMING AT NIGHT

Night swimming is a magical experience with only the moon and stars to light our way but with this comes additional risks, so please be safe;
Never swim alone – Swimming in pairs or small groups will still allow you to enjoy the stillness and peace but afford a safer environment.
Check your exit – It’s very easy to lose sight of your exit point so place a marker, fairy lights draped over your bag, a glow-stick or torch placed where you can see it, or where it’s appropriate a small fire is lovely to return to.
Swim parallel to shore – All too tempting to follow that elusive silver trail of moonlight across the water but be wary of venturing too far from shore, cold incapacitation can hit suddenly and can hit any swimmer.
Get out while you still want more – As we head into the beginning of the new year the water and air temperatures are plummeting, cut your swim time accordingly, you will enjoy so many more swims this way.
Organise your kit – When you’re cold and shivering the last thing you want is to be fumbling in the dark for your woolly hat etc, so set out your gear in the order that you like to get dressed to make it as quick and easy as possible.
Enjoy a warming cuppa with friends – Finish the experience beautifully.
Respect others – Some people want to have a quiet and personal swim, be sensitive to your fellows, respect their space and enjoy.
Stay Safe!
Excellent post, I’ve never really been one for the lore behind full moons but my wife loves it. The content on this site is amazing and being able to find places to swim so close to me on the map I never knew existed is brilliant. This is an absolute gem of a resource I’ll be sure to share with my swimming pals.
Thanks Frankie, We’ve more sites and info to add over the coming months!…cheers Paul