Wild Swimming Hike Experience in Northumberland and The North Pennines

Wild Swimming Hike Experience in Northumberland and The North Pennines with Little Blue Pootles

Little Blue Pootles is run by Hayley Crawshaw, a qualified Wild Swimming Walking Guide, Outdoor and Adventure Therapist and experienced retreat host with a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Hayley has decades of hillwalking experience and many years of cold-water swimming behind her, along with qualifications in open water safety and rescue, outdoor first aid and lowland walking leadership. She is also training as a Hill and Moorland Leader, so guests can feel confident they are in knowledgeable and capable hands.

Her connection with the outdoors is deeply personal. After becoming a young widow in 2018, Hayley found that wild swimming and walking in the hills gave her space to process grief and begin moving forward. That experience strengthened her belief in the positive effect that time spent outdoors can have, and inspired her to use her skills to help others discover the same sense of freedom, connection and adventure.

Safety is always at the heart of every Little Blue Pootles experience. Each swim hike location is risk assessed in advance and Hayley brings an impressively thorough approach to planning, helped by a former career in risk and compliance. Even during a lively discussion about the merits of an especially good piece of cheddar, there is every chance she is quietly assessing the surroundings.

And the name? Hayley is often spotted wearing a retro blue swimming cap, has blue hair and, by her own admission, is not exactly the tallest person on the hill. Little Blue Pootles seemed rather fitting.

Warm, reassuring and passionate about sharing the landscapes she loves, Hayley creates relaxed, memorable adventures that encourage guests to experience wild swimming and walking in some of the North’s most beautiful places.