Wild Swim - The Lake District

We are offering a Pickup service for this trip - please see below. If you prefer to make your own way to the hostel, then you are welcome to arrive from 5pm.
Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.

Pickup (Day 1): We are offering a Pickup from Penrith Train Station at 3pm.

Return (Day 3): If booking the Pickup, we will also return you to Penrith Train Station on the final day, after we finish swimming. Please book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility with the return time.

Meeting Location (if not booking a Pickup):
Field Studies Council - Blencathra Centre
Blease Road
Threlkeld
Keswick
CA12 4SG

what3words///slave.reflector.ballroom

Access Information: Once you have reached the village of Threlkeld and turned onto Blease Road, the accommodation is located one mile up the hill.

Parking: There is free parking available at the accommodation.

Public Transport: The accommodation is located 14 miles from Penrith Train Station, with services to/from London, Preston, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

We will stay at the Field Studies Council’s Blencathra Centre for this weekend. Lonscale is the eco-friendly historic Lakeland slate building which we’ll call home for the duration. It offers a spectacular location on the slopes of Blencathra, with stunning views.

All bedrooms are en-suite. Bedding is provided - but please bring a towel (as well as a separate swim towel) and don’t forget your own toiletries.

Accommodation Address:
Field Studies Council - Blencathra Centre
Blease Road
Threlkeld
Keswick
CA12 4SG

Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (en-suite)

Rooms at Lonscale are mainly Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - usually with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are en-suite). There are also some Twin Rooms - with bunk beds - which sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are en-suite).

Please see our Wild Swimming Kit List.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.

WETSUIT: Although we appreciate many people skin dip and prefer to spend time in cold water without a wetsuit, a wetsuit is essential on this trip for a number of reasons.

We will aim to be doing more than one swim/dip each day we’re out - the cumulative effect of the cold means you will get colder throughout the day and without a wetsuit may end up missing chances to swim.

Wetsuits provide extra protection too - from rough rocks, barnacles etc. There may be chances to skin dip over this trip, but it is essential to have a wetsuit with you.

You can read our blog on exactly why we insist on wetsuits here.

Please note that you must have your own wetsuit as we are unable to lend you one. If you need any advice on the best type of wetsuit to purchase ahead of this trip, please feel free to explore this Blog post.

Although you will need to be a confident swimmer, you do not need to be long-distance swimmer by any means. You do not need to have prior experience of wild or outdoor swimming.

We are not aiming to swim miles, instead enjoying a greater number of more leisurely wild swims, where you can really take in the views and scenery and appreciate being immersed in the natural world. We will not be heading into open water.

If you want to sit a swim out as well your more than welcome to stay in the minibus or enjoy the local scenery whilst we swim.

Included:

• Pickup service from Penrith - see the Meeting Location & Time section above - and transportation for the duration of the trip.

• 2 nights’ hostel accommodation.

• A Large Outdoors host/wild swimming guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and logistics for your experience.

• Guided wild swims on 2 days (Day 2 and Day 3).

• Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.

• A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

• A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.

• Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

• Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

• The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

• Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

Not Included:

• Travel to and from the meeting location.

• Wetsuit hire - you must bring your own!

• Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

• Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

• Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.

• Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

• Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

• What level of fitness is needed?
You’ll need to be a confident swimmer, but outdoor swimming experience is not required. There will be some walking too, to get to our swim spots from where we park - the ground we cover here may be uneven with some slippery/rocky parts.

• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

• What transport is provided during this trip?
We offer transport with a Pickup service (see Meeting Location & Time section above) and transfers from the accommodation to the activity start points and back.

• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog on an experience, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.