Taking the plunge

Despite the UK’s somewhat mixed climate, leading Virginia Water estate agent Barton Wyatt this year has seen a marked appetite for houses with pools to aid a healthy lifestyle.

Swimming can burn anywhere from 500-650 calories per hour and regular swimming has huge health benefits. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and strokes, as well as boosting mood and keeping weight under control.

Although the name Virginia Water might suggest utopia for residents, the man-made lake, which dates from 1753, cannot be used for swimming. This leaves those more at home in the water looking for an alternative. For many this means purchasing a home complete with onsite swimming pool. Estate agent Barton Wyatt's experience this year is that the number of houses coming onto the market in Virginia Water with swimming pools has nearly doubled; currently one in four homes for sale having either indoor or outdoor pools.

Swimming is unquestionably one of the finest ways to keep fit. Few, if any, other sports work as many muscle groups at the same time giving swimmers a total body workout every time they enter the water. It reduces the risk of illness, keeps the body in trim and is very low impact making it ideal for people of all ages.

James Wyatt, partner at Barton Wyatt, is an avid swimmer. As he points out: “Swimming pools are an enigma when it comes to selling a property. They can be hard work to look after, but the lure of a pool in a back garden is often the icing on the cake. It’s a good selling point and once children have seen the pool it’s pretty hard to walk away.”



The Ridge, Wentworth £8,750,000 - Six bedrooms with en-suite bath/shower rooms, four reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, entertainment room, cinema, staff kitchen/utility room and gymnasium/games room with adjoining shower room. Double garage, outdoor swimming pool and gardens of over an acre facing south to the rear. A stunning Georgian style family home beautifully presented with high ceilings and large windows. The property is situated in the very heart of the Wentworth Estate, backing onto the Executive Course, and set in delightfully secluded gardens of approximately one and a half acres.



Broomfield House, Windlesham £4,350,000 - Five bedrooms (three bedrooms with en-suite facilities, master with en-suite dressing room and bathroom), family bathroom, reception hall, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, family room, study, conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room and two cloakrooms. Indoor swimming pool complex, triple garage with one bedroom staff flat above, tennis court, secluded landscaped gardens and grounds of approximately 1.68 acres.



Winbar, South Ascot £2,600,000 - Entrance hall, cloakroom, dining room, drawing room, study, utility, conservatory, five bedrooms (three en-suite) and family bathroom. Garage with separate guest/staff flat with living room/bedroom six and bathroom. Large outdoor area with swimming pool, BBQ, Jacuzzi, kitchen, large tiled terraced entertainment area and pool house. Gardens 0.62 of an acre. Approximately 4,000 sq ft.



Roundbarrow House, Sunningdale £3,950,000 - Seven bedrooms, five bath/shower rooms, second floor sitting room, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, games room and basement plant room. Large two bay garage with one bedroom staff flat over. Swimming pool with beautiful gardens amounting to approximately one acre.

Healthy exercise
Swimming regularly may help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses in some people. The national governing body’s (the ASA) report that looked at health and fitness research from around the globe shows swimming may increase life expectancy. Swimming cuts men’s risk of dying early by about 50% compared to runners, walkers and those who are inactive. NHS guidelines suggest adults should undertake thirty minutes of moderate-intensity activity on five or more days a week. A thirty minute session at the pool on one or more days a week will count towards this recommended weekly activity target. The ASA believes that swimming can offer a sense of mental wellbeing: something not easily measured, but anecdotally mentioned by thousands of participants. Swimming is a safe form of exercise as water can support up to 90% of the body’s weight in the water, so reducing strain on the body. The activity builds strength, endurance and muscle tone. Swimming is a family activity in which everyone can partake throughout the year, inside or outside.

Key Benefits of Swimming
• Low impact There’s no ground impact when swimming and so joints are protected from stress and strain.
• Can be continued for a lifetime Because there’s no impact with swimming, it can be continued throughout a lifetime.
• Builds cardiorespiratory fitness Swimming improves endurance, increasing maximal oxygen consumption and stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped with each beat which indicates heart strength).
• Builds muscle mass: an alternative when injured Swimming is a resistance exercise and will strengthen and tone musculature. The resistance of the water makes muscles work hard without the strain or impact experienced on land.
• t’s a break from the summer heat There's nothing like a cool dip in the pool during the hot days of summer; it's relaxing, movements are smooth and rhythmic and it’s a great workout.
• It's a family affair Swimming and other water activities are something the entire family can share.
• Burns calories Swimming burns lots of calories, depending on how efficient the swimmer and how buoyant. Original research on swimming and calorie expenditure showed that swimming, regardless of the stroke, burned about 89% of the calories burned during running and 97% of the calories burned during cycling for the same time period (depending on the intensity of exercise).

Barton Wyatt
The Estate Office, 2 Station Approach, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4DL
Telephone: 01344 843000
Website: www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

Tags: Barton Wyatt, Property, Healthy exercise, pools, Key Benefits, Virginia Water, Surrey