SwimtheLakes

Adventure swimming pioneers Swim the Lakes offer inspirational swimming at the heart of the beautiful Lake District. Guided wild swims, holidays and courses, a five star wetsuit fitting service and all the gear can be found at our dedicated open water swimming shop in Ambleside. We have swims for all abilities, and our friendly and experienced local swim guides ensure each session is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. Come on in… the water’s lovely!

About us

We’ve been guiding wild swimming trips since 2005 and pioneered adventure swimming in the Lake District. Swim the Lakes was borne from a spirit of adventure and a deep connection with a place we’ve been exploring since childhood. We’re a family business (we’re Pete and Andrea Kelly – Hi :), and we strive to share our love of adventure swimming with our visitors in a safe and friendly way.

Everyone who works for us is a keen swimmer and shares this same philosophy. From Therry, Jan and Ellie who look after our shop in Ambleside, to Sarah, Steve, Jacqui, Alison, Mike, Heidi and Andy, our team of swim guides who help to run our swims. We want you to buy the kit that is right for you, and for you to have an incredible time swimming with us no matter what kind of swimmer you are.

Our team of friendly swim guides are the best in the business and are all experienced outdoor professionals as well as being seasoned outdoor swimmers, mountain leaders, coaches and lifeguards. We have an excellent pool of knowledge thanks to our diverse backgrounds which enables us to lead the way in swim guiding best practice. You can’t beat a local guide, and all of this goes to reassure our clients that we are there to look after them as well as to have a great time swimming.

Our Location & Opening Times

We are based in Ambleside, at the heart of the Lake District. Most of the rivers, tarns and lakes that we swim in are right on our doorstep. Our shop is a hub for open water swimming, offering advice on where to swim, wetsuit hire, and outdoor swimming specific kit, courses and trips.

Swim the Lakes
2 Compston Road
AMBLESIDE
LA22 9DJ

Open 7 days a week 09:30-17:30 (times vary seasonally and at the weekends). Swim guiding season begins in April and runs through to October.

What we Offer

Introduction to Open Water Swimming Courses and Taster Sessions – The original “Intro” course and still our most popular. We have had the pleasure of introducing many swimmers to the delights of open water swimming and continue to do so. Our intro course covers every aspect of safe and effective outdoor swimming and gives you the confidence to enjoy your own swimming future. For those who just want to dip their toe in the water, we also offer a taster session: Just book, turn up with a towel and swimming costume, and we’ll provide the rest.

Adventure Swim Breaks – 2 day Adventure swimming breaks showcasing the best swimming that the UK has to offer. From our newest addition, The Lake District Swim Yoga Retreat to long established client faves like The Great Lake District Swim Challenge, you know you’re going to have a blast and meet new friends.

Adventure Swim Days – These are a mini version of our swim breaks, and each swim has its own unique character. These swims define what Swim the Lakes is all about and there really is something for everyone. They offer a grand day out and will leave you with memories to cherish for the rest of your life.

Short Wild Swims – Our short wild swim series provides a great introduction to the world of adventure swimming at a more relaxed pace. Choose from our island hopping trips to our much loved night swimming tours. They are all good fun and very inclusive.

Open Water Swimming Shop – We were the first to offer a dedicated open water swimming shop that offered sensible and friendly advice to everyone. We specialise in wetsuit fitting and our wetsuit fitting service receives excellent reviews. We have trialled and tested everything we sell so we can give you down to earth advice on what might suit you. We select what we consider to be the best products from Puffin Swim, Blueseventy, Speedo, Zone 3, DryRobe, Zoggs, Aquasphere, among others. We also sell Pete’s book: Wild Swimming Walks, Lake District, for all those independent folk who want to get out there and do their own thing!

Pop in to see us, give us a call, or take a look at our website; we’d be glad to help.

The Home of Puffin Swim, Recycled Tow Floats – Come and see our Puffins! We stock the entire range of Puffin Swim tow floats and accessories and started the Puffin brand so that we could offer more eco conscious products. We were the first company to produce tow floats made from recycled materials and continue to seek out more environmentally friendly products to add to our range. Come and see us for advice on which tow float to choose, or visit our site at puffinswim.co.uk/