The autumn light is noticeably different as the air cools and becomes clearer the light takes on a new hue and the changing colors of the foliage become quite spectacular, often mixed with clear air and mix of blue and dark grey skies at the same time giving the whole feel a very dramatic effect.

It's also easier to get up for sunrise swims because the days start getting shorter! No longer do you need to get up at 5:00 a.m. in order to catch the sunrise as in the summer, in the autumn you can get an extra hour in bed and go for a 7 a.m sunrise swim, or later as the months progress.

There's still a lot of wildlife to see in the autumn too. In fact you may well see more than in the summer because the seals start pupping in September and October and sometimes put in an appearance offshore as they hunt fish for their newborn pups.

I enjoy the challenge of cold water swimming too, not only in terms of the swim itself but preparation of the kit and of how you minimise the cold after the swim. Autumn is a good chance to hone your skills that perhaps have been forgotten over the summer, dig out your winter swimming kit and start practicing exit strategies such as laying out your kit in the right order, getting a fire going in a twig stove with cold hands, and so on!

I also love the varied weather of autumn. Within one week in September here in Pembrokeshire we had warmth and sunshine and temperatures of 25 degrees, to monsoon type rain and storms. Swim running is also great in the autumn. The cooler temperatures mean you don't opverheat and there's nothing like running long distances in autumn rain then diving straight in the ocean when it's belting down, so exhilerating!

So, grab your gear and get out for a swim in autumn! You won't regret it.