Formed by glaciation, Ullswater has excellent water quality, perfect for wild swimming. There’s plenty of it too. Islands and beaches pepper it’s nine mile length, satisfying even the biggest appetites for exploration.
Join a guided swim when you stay with us, or borrow a swim wetsuit and get going at your own pace.
Ullswater lake is just the place to start a wild swimming adventure. You can grab a wetsuit and float and get out there yourself, or book expert tuition. Colin Hill, a local open-water swimmer, who just happens to be an advisor the Olympic committee and trainer to athletes around the world, will take you out to secret pools and coves or teach you to swim wild like a local.
Borrow a wetsuit from the Sheep Shed and swim from our jetty along our shoreline. Or, head further into the lake with these suggested swims.
Kailpot Crag, characterised by ancient, gnarly foliage, has a small cliff for diving into deep water and a small shingle beach. It’s westerly aspect means you can enjoy the sunset while swimming. Take the ferry to Howtown pier and follow the lake path a mile south-west.
Swimming along the lake shore from Sandwick towards Howtown you will see woods, cliffs and rocky beaches. About half a mile on, two buoys mark a beach where you can exit the water and return to the footpath. To find your starting point, park in Sandwick hamlet and follow the path to the right signposted towards Howtown. You will come across a couple of beaches that allow you to enter the water.
Essential guidelines to ensure you swim safely.
Another Place supports the Lake District National Park’s SwimSafe campaign – a code to follow that aims to keep you safe whilst swimming.
Be seen by boats.
Exposure to cool water can rapidly lead to hypothermia
Ullswater is busy with boats. People on boats may struggle to see swimmers. A collision with any boat can be fatal.
Swimming is the ultimate low-impact sport, working all the main muscle groups and providing all round cardio-vascular fitness.
Understand more about your swimming style with video analysis and a combination of land, pool and lake sessions as well as learning about the importance of streamlining, body alignment and ‘hydro-statics’.
get
out
there
Arrive
8am – Theory session
9am – Pool session
12noon – Optional Aira Force walk and café/ picnic lunch.
3pm – Lake swim (dependent on weather, conditions and water temperature)
6pm – Pool session including possible video analysis
8am – Debrief
9am – Pool or lake swim session
10.15am – Brunch/debrief
Arrangements can be made for Zone 3 wetsuits hire or purchase through Salim at Swimlab.
Swimsuit, goggles, flip flops for walking down to the lakeshore, swim hat.
Swimming wetsuit if you have one. If you don’t we can help to arrange a hire wetsuit. Alternatively you can buy one through us at a 20% discount from Zone 3.
Walking gear – waterproofs, boots, hat etc.
Sun cream and sunglasses.
Depending on the weather, we will be using the 20-metre warm pool inside the hotel’s Swim Club, or Ullswater – the lake which the hotel rests on the shores of.
The walks are likely to be gentle around Aira Force, a National Trust waterfall.
Where required during the clinic, transport will be provided.
Ullswater will be between 13 and 16 degrees in September. A swimming wetsuit and hat will be required.
The pool in Swim Club will be circa 28 degrees.
Ideally you should be able to swim at least four to eight lengths of a 25-metre pool without stopping, using front crawl and/ or breaststroke.
Please inform us of any medical conditions or injuries at the time of booking.
We will send you out a questionnaire before the weekend to find out about your swimming history, and personal objectives.
The Swim Clinic will be run by Salim Ahmed, founder of the alternative swim coaching group SwimLab. Salim is an STA qualified Instructor with a history of coaching. Clients include Shepperton Open Water, Becky Adlington’s Swim Stars, University of York, David Lloyd Triathlon Clubs and The Royal Marine Commando Swim Team.
The methodology focusses on developing the most efficient stroke for open water swimming. The aim is to get you to fall in love with and connect with water. The rest will just follow!
