Name: The Buttermere Swimble
SKU: Buttermere_Swimble
Availability: InStock

Buttermere Swimble_sunshine in the meadow

The Buttermere Swimble

£59.99

The Buttermere Swimble – The Buttermere Valley is surely one of the most beautiful in the Lake District. Buttermere itself is a stunning place to swim and the water is crystal clear, with that typical slate blue tint we know and love. The walking here is also lovely, too good to rush; hence the swimble-bimble tag. The path around the lake is fairly level and provides that rare thing in the Lakes – an easy walk!

This swim offers an easygoing day out in Buttermere, swimming, and hiking along the way. As usual, our excellent Swim the Lakes swim guides will be there providing safety cover, local knowledge, and plenty of hot chocolate.

2025 Date: Thursday, 22 May

Swim Ability & Fitness Level: Suitable for beginners & intermediate outdoor swimmers who can comfortably swim 1,000m in a pool and who preferably have some outdoor swimming experience. Hiking will be easy-paced over about 6km of easy but uneven tracks and trails.

What’s included:

20 years of experience; no one knows the Lakes like we do. We wrote the book, literally: Wild Swimming Walks Lake District
100% Safety Record; we establish the Good Practice that others follow
Highly qualified, capable and friendly swim guides
A high Guide:Swimmer ratio, so you can get help and support if you need it.
Fantastic swimming locations within the National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Excellent water quality – we run our own independent tests during the season to make sure of it
Free swimming wetsuit and equipment hire. We want you to enjoy your swimming!
The best swimming experience in the UK – we get consistent, independent 5 star reviews… thanks folks 🙂
Free hot choccy & cake
A high quality Swim the Lakes silicone swim cap

Start Time & Duration: Meet at 08:30 to depart by 09:00 at Gatesgarth. Finish by 15:00.

Please choose your date from the calendar to book.

SKU: Buttermere_Swimble Category: Adventure Swim Days Tags: adventure swim, adventure swimming, Buttermere, Buttermere Swimble, swim-hike, Wild Swimming

Product Description

Our Buttermere Swimble swim walk is a really enjoyable day out and is proving to be one of our most popular swims. Swimming in the best locations in Buttermere, gentle hiking between dips, and picnicking along the way. If you are new to the Lakes, or to outdoor swimming, you will certainly fall in love with the place. If you are an old hand, you’ll enjoy the company and easygoing nature of the day.

The great circle of mountains surrounding Buttermere are truly awe-inspiring. We’ll be swimming in the shadow of Fleetwith Pike, High Stile and Haystacks. They were among Wainwright’s favourites, and his ashes are scattered by Innominate Tarn up on Haystacks. For a man who knew the Lakes as well as Wainwright this fact says a lot about the beauty of this place. Buttermere has the clearest water of all of the Lake District lakes, and it provides an exceptional day of hiking and swimming. Although very popular, one can never tire of exploring Buttermere and its surrounding fells.

Larch, pine, beech, and ash line many sections of Buttermere and define many of the most attractive swimming locations. We will be making good use of these as we tour the perimeter of the lake, and the woods provide good shelter in both good weather and bad. The blue slate shingle beaches where we will swim are a nice place to linger on a sunny day.

This is an ideal trip for anyone who has done a bit of open-water swimming and who also enjoys a hike. Our relaxed and friendly guides will ensure your safety on dry land and in the water and are there to make sure you enjoy your day out.

Buttermere Swimble Brief Itinerary:

Our day begins at 08:30. This gives us time to organise ourselves for the day before departing at 09:00. Buttermere is a popular place, and it pays to arrive early!

We will walk with all we need for the day, including your swimming kit. Along the way, we’ll stop for snacks, swims, and lunch; plan for 3 swims throughout the day.

This is the kind of swimming we do on our days off at Swim the Lakes. We’re really looking forward to sharing it with you. Detailed information will be emailed after booking. Please check your ‘junk’ folders.

Swim Ability & Fitness Level:

This swim and hiking adventure is perfect for beginners & intermediate outdoor swimmers and hikers with reasonable general fitness. For this wild swim journey, the emphasis is on exploring and enjoying the environment. However, you do need to be a competent swimmer and walker. The hiking is over easy but typically rough and undulating Lake District tracks and trails.

Please read the ‘Essential Information’ and ‘FAQ’ tabs, on the left, for information on what to expect and what to bring, and more.

See our customer testimonials here.

Any Queries? We are happy to help, see our Swim Trips FAQ page or call 015394 33826.

I can’t find my swim information email / joining instructions.
All joining instructions are emailed within 48hours of booking, please check your ‘junk’ folder in the first instance. Please add [email protected] to your safe list.

How fit do I need to be for this wild swim?
You do not need to be super fit or fast, but you do need to be a confident swimmer who can swim at least 500m in open water for this swim. You must also be comfortable and used to hiking over the typical rough and undulating terrain encountered in the Lakes. We don’t set these recommendations to exclude, only to inform so that you can select the appropriate trip for you. The pace of both swimming and hiking will be relaxed to accommodate everyone in the group.

How far will we swim and walk?
Total swimming distance is about 1,500m for this trip, which involves three swims in separate locations in the lake. Walking distance is approximately 6km (just under 4 miles).

What will the weather be like?
It could be sunny and still, it could be windy and raining, but we do know you are going to have a great time. Please check the weather forecast before you travel and bring suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. Don’t be put off by changeable weather; at times this can lead to a wonderful outdoor swimming experience.

Can I hire a wetsuit?
Yes, you can hire a wetsuit from us for this swim. Our low cost hire is a great way of trying out a wetsuit for the first time or for visitors who have packed light for their holidays and didn’t bring their own.
Remember to state your size info at the time of booking. We’ll need UK dress size for ladies and t-shirt size for gents, as well as height and weight details for both.

We have wetsuit sizes from XS to XL men’s and UK6 – UK20 ladies, please call us if you are concerned about sizes.

How cold will the water be?
The lakes vary in temperature between 14-18 degrees for this time of year depending on the local weather conditions.

What do I do with my Valuables?
Valuables are best left at home or in your car. Phone and keys should be kept in a dry bag or waterproof plastic bag inside your rucksack. During the swims we will leave all of our kit on the shore. However, we will rarely stray far from our swim location. If you feel you need to take your valuables with you during the swimming, then please seal them in a waterproof drybag and take them with you in a drybag tow float.

Hi Pete,
First of all, a big thank you for a super lovely swim on Saturday. It was an immensely enjoyable experience, you even delivered perfect weather for us! Will continue to keep an eye on your events calendar and hope to partake in another in the not too distant future. Just wish Peterborough was a bit closer to the lakes!
Best regards,
Emma W

ESSENTIAL INFO
Wetsuits: Wetsuits are not essential for this wild swim, but obviously wearing one will keep you warmer and safer. If you are an experienced outdoor swimmer you may swim without a wetsuit, but you must wear an appropriate tow float.

Wetsuit Hire: Wetsuit hire is available, please go to our wetsuit hire page for details. We have sizes from XS to XL men’s and UK6 to UK20 ladies, please ring us to discuss your hire if you are concerned about sizes.

What to bring: Swimming costume or trunks, wetsuit, and accessories if you need them, swim cap, clear goggles (if you have them), big towel, dry bag or plastic bags for your wet kit, warm clothes for changing back into after your swim, appropriate clothing for the weather, cash for the car park and a rucksack to carry your clothing during the hike. We recommend bringing a flask of hot drink and a packed lunch (although we do provide you with hot choc and cake).

We’d recommend using the Sea to Summit dry-bags here: Sea to Summit

Group Size: min – max: 5 – 16

Parking: Details of where to park will be emailed to you upon booking. Please always park responsibly.

Confirmation Email: We will send a confirmation after booking, please check your ‘spam folder’.

Caution: Open water swimming can be a changeable and sometimes dangerous environment. Although unlikely, there is always a possibility that we may need to make changes to the itinerary due to extreme weather conditions, water conditions or other issues that may affect safe operation or organisation. If this is the case, we will contact you directly either prior to the swim, or during the safety briefing. Whichever we deem to be the most appropriate.

Please read our Swim Trip FAQs to ensure you are well prepared and get the most from your swimming adventure.

T&C’s
All participants must be 16 years or over, and those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
By booking you are agreeing to our booking terms and conditions here

Swim Trips FAQ’s
For more information such as kit suggestions, fitness levels please read our Swim Trips FAQ’S here.

Happy Swimming,
Pete & Andrea

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		2 Compston Road,
		Ambleside,
		The Lake District,
		Cumbria,
		LA22 9DJ
		015394 33826
		email us
		See Our Location