` Lakes Big Swims Trip Notes

TRIP OVERVIEW The Lake District is home to over 80 lakes, meres, waters, and tarns making it a great location for open water swimming. On this short escape, we offer the opportunity to do some longer swims on what we think are four of the best lakes in the area. The days are packed as we swim the entire length of Derwent Water and Wast Water and swim across Grasmere and Ullswater. This trip is a fabulous opportunity to spend a few days not only exploring the different areas of the Lake District from a swimming perspective, but also experiencing the uniqueness of each lake. Swimmers will be escorted by experienced swim guides and qualified canoeists during all swims. Our accommodation is located on the shores of the water at Grasmere, right across the road from Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage. WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR? This trip is a combination of lake length swims as well as some long width crossings. Most swims are between 4-5kms, so the trip is best suited to those who fancy these types of distances. Although challenging, these swims are some of the most spectacular anywhere in the Lakes. LOCATION SUMMARIES Wast Water Wast Water is perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all the lakes and the deepest in England. Surrounded by the mountains of Red Pike, Kirk Fell and Great Gable, the peak of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain is our target as swim the length of this Water. Derwent Water Derwent Water is fed by the River Derwent with a catchment area in the high fells surrounded to its west rise by the fells of Cat Bells and to its east, the fantastic viewpoint of Friar's Crag, jutting into the lake. At Derwent Waters southern foot is the entrance to the beautiful Borrowdale valley. It has a long historical and literary background. Beatrix Potter sourced much material for her work from this Water. Ullswater Ullswater is situated in the stunning Eden Valley and is the second largest lake in the Lake District. On average it is 3/4 mile wide and has a maximum depth of 205 feet at Howtown. It has three distinct bends giving it a dog’s leg appearance.

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Grasmere One of the smallest lakes within the Lake District, Grasmere is surrouned on all sides by fells and crags. The centrally forested island can prove to be an excellent sighting point during our crossing on the 1st day of the trip. At the southern end of Grasmere, the River Rothay feeds the neigbouring Rydal Water. TRIP SCHEDULE

Daffodil Hotel and Spa, By The Lake Keswick Road, Grasmere, Start Point LA22 9PR www.daffodilhotel.co.uk Start Time 16:00 on Day 1 Finish Point Daffodil Hotel and Spa Finish Time 15:00 on Day 4 Day 1 We meet in the afternoon at the Daffodil Hotel and Spa on the banks of Grasmere where we will hold a pre-trip briefing to discuss the plans for the days ahead, followed by a full crossing of this idyllic lake. We aim towards Raven Crag which appears to overhang the lake. It’s an excellent first swim of the trip. Day 2 Today, our challenge takes us to Ullswater. The mighty ranges of Helvellyn and High Street form a dramatic backdrop and fully isolate the lake. We head out from Aira Point on the northern shore and head directly east for Kailpot Crag on the Water’s southern shore. We take a brief drink and nourishment here before passing Geordie’s Crag and finishing at the small village of Howtown. Day 3 We travel by minibus to the Western Lakes and the remotest of all of the Lakes, Wast Water. Today’s swim is a length crossing of England's deepest lake. The landscape is dramatic as sheer scree slopes of loose stone track our progress north-eastwards. Due to its depth it’s also likely to be the coldest lake that we cross during our trip. Day 4 We journey to the southern end of Derwent Water, the widest of all the Lakes and from here start our length swim, past Brandelhow and the islet of St Herbert. This is a perfect spot for a rest before tackling the second half of the swim, past Lord’s Island and Derwent Isle, before reaching the northern end of the lake. TRIP INFORMATION Swimming Distances Swim Distance Swim Distance Grassmere Crossing 2km Ullswater 4½ km Length of Wast Water 5km Length of Derwent Water 4km

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Temperatures Month Water Temperature* Air Temperature* July 14-19˚C 22˚C September 14-19˚C 20˚C

* Please note that these temperatures are indicative and should be used as a guide only. Essential Equipment Checklist In addition to ‘normal’ daily clothes, you will need to bring the following:  ITEM  ITEM  Swimming Costume (x 2)  Sweater / Fleece  Swimming Goggles (x 2)*  Thermal Long-Sleeve Top  Towel  Aqua Shoes / Sandals  Wooly Hat and Gloves  Small Day Pack (Preferably Waterproof)  Walking Shoes / Boots  Sun Hat and Sun Cream  Waterproof Trousers  Torch or Head Torch  Waterproof Jacket  Water Bottle  Wetsuit**

*Try to bring one clear lens and one tinted lens for different light conditions. **Due to the variable nature of conditions on these swims, it is advisable to bring a wetsuit along with you to use if required. Swim Hats, Flippers, Rashvests and Wetsuits and Water Bottles SwimTrek will supply swim hats. We will have a limited supply/range of flippers, rashvests and wetsuits available on the trip, but we cannot guarantee sizes for all. If you have your own flippers, rashvest and wetsuit we would recommend you bring these with you in order to maximise your enjoyment of the trip. Please note that SwimTrek will provide water and electrolyte drinks in shared water bottles on your safety boat. If you prefer to use your own drink bottle, please feel free to bring one along. Group Size This trip has a maximum group size of 16. The trip will be split into a maximum of three groups based on speed, each of which is accompanied by their own safety vessel/escort. *Swimming Conditions* Swimming in lakes is a fantastic experience, however Water quality can, at times, be affected by water run off from fields. Blue Green Algae and Weil’s Disease are possible contaminants, so if you do feel unwell at any stage during or after the trip, you should visit a GP immediately, telling them you have been lake swimming.

SwimTrek Ltd. 6 Hove Manor, Hove Street, Brighton & Hove, BN3 2DF, U.K. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 739 713 | E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.swimtrek.com Page 3 ` Lakes Big Swims Trip Notes

*Weather Caveat* For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out our swims. As a consequence, open water swimming holidays require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your SwimTrek guides as quickly as possible. GETTING THERE Public transport The nearest train station to Grasmere is Windermere. Once you arrive in Windermere, you will need to catch bus number 555 which leaves from the station at least once per hour throughout the day and takes approximately 30 minutes to reach Grasmere Centre. The cost for this bus is approximately £5 for a single ticket. The Daffodil Hotel and Spa is a 15-20 minute walk, or a short taxi ride, from Grasmere Centre on the A591. For more information on bus times, fare options and prices from Windermere, please contact Traveline on 0870 608 2608 and ask for the of ‘Cumbria’. For taxi services in Grasmere, please contact Grasmere Taxi Services on 015394 35506. Driving The Daffodil Hotel and Spa is located 1km south-east of the centre of Grasmere on the A591. The postcode is LA22 9PR. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Accommodation For this tour we are based at the Daffodil Hotel and Spa, which sits on Grasmere’s shore. It is a beautiful Georgian mansion with stylish contemporary interiors, as well as spa facilities, including a 10 metre thermal pool, sauna, steam room and tepidarium. Meals All breakfasts are included on the trip, as well as lunches on days 2, 3 and 4. Dinners are not included but are available from local pubs and restaurants in the area. We generally dine as a group, however guests are free to decide whether they would like to join us for these dinners or not. Extra Expenses You should bring money with you to cover items such as entertainment, snacks, souvenirs, etc. The local currency in the U.K. is British Pound Sterling (£). Vaccinations There are currently no essential vaccination requirements for the United Kingdom, however it is advisable to recheck this approximately eight weeks before you travel. You should ensure that your immunity to tetanus and polio is up-to-date. OTHER INFORMATION If there is any further information that you require before your trip, or if you have any questions whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact details at the bottom of these Trip Notes.

SwimTrek Ltd. 6 Hove Manor, Hove Street, Brighton & Hove, BN3 2DF, U.K. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 739 713 | E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.swimtrek.com Page 4