Wild lido

Art and swimming coincided in a 'pop up lido' at an isolated, mysterious lake in the middle of Dartmoor. Artist Alex Murdin put up a lifeguard's chair, red flag and parasol at Crazywell Pool, and scores of swimmers came along to take part in the 'living artwork'. (at this point I have to declare an interest: the artist is my other half). The lifeguard's chair broadcast a temporary radio station - Crazywell FM - which people tuned into on their portable radios, to hear whale song, health and safety advice, and other information. There are many legends about Crazywell: that it is tidal, rising and falling via a secret underground passage which links to Plymouth Sound about ten miles south; that it is bottomless; and that at dusk the waters call out the name of the next parishioner to die. Perhaps there'll now be a new legend to add to the list: on a June's day a strange red flag appears along with a lifeguard's chair...why? Nobody knows...

Spot the swimmer

On the top of Dartmoor we could see for miles; down to Plymouth Sound and over to Hay Tor. As we walked down from South Hessary Tor, we approached Crazy Well Pool from above. It was magnificent, eerie and still. At 10.2 degrees it was most certainly fresh, but I managed to swim across and back. A great way of restoring your factory settings...