Keswick Mountain Festival: a swimmer’s guide

Jonathan Cowie reports from the adventure sports and music festival in the Lake District

When it comes to mountain festivals in the Lake District held in small towns beginning with K, you are spoilt for choice. In November, Kendal Mountain Festival takes over the small market town of Kendal in the South Lakes with a weekend of films, talks and events. Earlier in the calendar, Keswick Mountain Festival (no relation), takes over the small market town of Keswick in the North Lakes for a May weekend of sports, live music and talks.

Keswick Mountain Festival – with its programme of swims, runs, cycles, hikes, adventure races and triathlons twinned with a music festival – has long been on my list of to-do events. This summer saw the return of the festival in full force with multiple sporting disciplines and two stages of live music, as well as a large event village full of food, drink, brand stalls and entertainments.

Swimmers have three swim distances to choose from, all taking place in Derwentwater under the shadow of Catbells and views of Skiddaw and the Borrowdale valley. Distances are 750m and 1500m loop courses and a 3.6km point-to-point. Swim entries include access to the festival all weekend. I chose the 3.6km event, which started at 8.45 on the Saturday morning.

Registration was open the afternoon and evening before for those staying in Keswick or camping, but I chose to register on the morning of the swim. With parking at a premium in Keswick, I bought a Festival day parking pass for £10 which guaranteed a parking place at the local rugby club – a short walk from the event village. Registration, in a tent in the event village, was quick and efficient. The event was run to British Triathlon rules so wetsuits were compulsory since the water wasn’t over 16 degrees. Towfloats were not mandatory although many swimmers chose to swim with them. A bag drop was also available to leave your personal gear while you swam.

The 750m and 1500m swims start from the lake shore adjacent to the event village, but the 3.6km swim involves getting a ferry to the start line and then swimming back to the festival. Boarding the boats did involve a bit of hanging around as we waited for late registrants to make their way to the jetty, but spirits were high and the sun was shining. The event organisers recommended not wearing shoes on the ferry as the walk at the other end was very short. For those who did wish to wear shoes, there was the option to wear old shoes that would then be collected and donated to charity.

I love a swim that starts with a boat or train ride, but unfortunately we were dropped off at the wrong jetty. This meant that we had a 15-minute barefoot walk on stony trails to the start line; luckily I have tough feet but those with more sensitive soles found the walk challenging. Once at the correct starting jetty, the swim set off in three waves (assigned at registration). There was time for an acclimatisation swim and warm-up. Each swim wave had a different coloured hat (provided at registration, along with a timing chip worn on a Velcro strap around the ankle). I was in the fastest wave, which started last.

The swim course starts with a short (around 200m) swim direct from the lake shore to a large buoy, at which you turn left. The course is then a straight line, marked by large buoys interspersed with smaller ones, pretty much to the end of the lake, where you turn right then left before an island, to finish the swim on the shore in front of the event village. It was an easy-to-follow course with good kayak support throughout.

This was my first swim event for three years, so I did feel a bit nervous beforehand. The atmosphere on the boat and the beach – and the number of people for whom this was their very first event – was reassuring. The unplanned barefoot walk was also a good icebreaker! I set off at a steady but hopefully sustainable speed and found myself in third place in my wave at the first buoy. It felt good to be swimming at pace after such a long break from event swimming. The bright (for once this summer!) sun, clear water, beautiful landscape and easy to follow course made for an enjoyable swim.

The final metres of the swim were along a buoyed funnel to the race gantry, where a marshal was on hand to help swimmers out of the water and over the timing mat. After exiting the water we were marshalled towards the event village where refreshments, and event t-shirt for those that had opted to receive one, were provided.

I was welcomed by my friends who were waiting for the start of their half marathon. For the rest of the day I enjoyed the blazing hot weather and the festival atmosphere. I was also surprised to be called to the podium to receive a coaster and can of beer as prize for being first in my age group. Cheers Keswick Mountain Festival! See you next year.

Keswick Mountain Festival 2025 will take place from Friday 16 May to Sunday 18 May. Tickets will go on sale in the autumn but you can register your interest now at keswickmountainfestival.co.uk