A new Dart 10k
You think you’ve swum the Dart10k? Think again. Outdoor swimming’s answer to the London Marathon, this iconic open water river swim has been rebuilt. We found out what makes the new Dart10k even more incredible than before.
The original marathon river swim, the Dart10k, has earned a special place in the outdoor swimming calendar, and rightly so—since it was founded by Kate Rew of the Outdoor Swimming Society in 2010, thousands of swimmers have taken part, and it’s one of the main events that helped establish the open water swimming scene in the UK.
This year, 1,300 swimmers journeyed down a different stretch of the river on a magical maiden voyage. We asked organisers Level Water how they chose the new route, what needed changing, and what made this year’s new Dart10k more special than ever before.
A new start
The new Dart10k saw two major changes: firstly, it moved from the traditional early September to July to take advantage of better weather. Secondly, it followed a new route between Sharpham and Dartmouth, along a stretch of river with no road or footpath beside it.
“Dart is THE classic; part of British swimming history, and we’re honoured to be custodians of the swim for this era,” says Ian Thwaites, CEO of Level Water. “I could not be more proud of what we have put together. It has all the magic of the original Dart, new and improved features too, and we can’t wait to share the upgrade with everyone.”
So, why the change? After cancelling last year because of stormy weather and poor water quality, Level Water had to take stock. This new era that Ian talks about has different weather patterns and a better understanding of water quality than 16 years ago.
With stormier Septembers, the team decided July was a better bet for weather. And they chose the new starting point of Sharpham Bends because the water quality here is between ten and thirty times better than in Totnes.
Jumping in
Sharpham Bends is also incredibly beautiful, and the journey to the start is very exciting. From the registration and bag drop at the new event villageat Coronation Park in Dartmouth, swimmers make their way to three ferries, which carry them upriver to the start.
“I’ve worked on 3 versions of the Dart10k now,” says Level Water’s Event Manager, Jennifer Graham. “It’s always been a special event, but this year’s update was particularly exciting. Waving the swimmers off on the ferries, knowing they were travelling upriver and seeing the route they’d be swimming back down, enjoying the view and making friends on the way was a favourite bit for me.”
Once at Sharpham, they moor up against the pontoons. Swimmers then choose whether to ease in, jump or dive—and we’re told that at least one person bombed in.
“The start was something that will remain with me forever—spontaneous clapping, sheer joy,” one participant told Level Water.
Under the watchful eye of a superb safety crew, swimmers are then helped by the current as they pull downriver through Long Stream, past Dittisham and the Anchor Stone, stopping at Cornworthy and Parson Mud’s feed stations for bananas and a bit of moral support.
Every stroke counts
The Dart10k isn’t a race—as Level Water says at all its events: the winner is the one who enjoys it the most. However, the timing chips used for safety reasons mean you do know how fast you complete the swim. This year, it was between 1:51:33 and the best part of four hours.
Finishing at Dart Marina, swimmers then headed back to Coronation Park for food, drink, music and celebration in the sunshine. And, of course, the legendary Dart10k hot chocolate, served in the finisher’s mug you get to take home—we’re really pleased that tradition has stuck.
“The Dart10k, for me, is about possibility and belief,” says COO, Lucy Powell. “Having worked across the different routes this swim has taken, you get a real sense of the Dart itself—its presence, its history and just how special it is to swim. Then you have thousands of swimmers doing something really significant and personal to them.”
Part of that is the incredible fundraising for Level Water. The Dart10k 2026 has, so far, raised £180,000, which is around 12,000 swimming lessons to help children with disabilities feel capable, free, and completely at home in the water. Without those funds, these children wouldn’t have equal access to swimming lessons. Many of them wouldn’t be active at all.
“We’re already running swimming lessons at Dartmouth Leisure Centre and we want to do much more across Dartmouth and beyond,” says Lucy. “If the Dart10k can help someone believe they can swim their first length, as well as someone else believing they can swim their first 10k, that feels pretty powerful to me.”
The outdoor swimming scene has changed so much in the past 16 years, as has the climate. We’re excited to see how Level Water has responded by reimagining the Dart10k, and we can’t wait to swim the new route in July 2027.
To join us, make sure you register your interest by September 23rd to be notified when tickets go on sale—last year, they sold out in record time! Register here.
