The Bantham Swoosh starts from a beautiful village called Aveton Gifford. Ending on the beach at the stunning Bantham Estate.

Timbers Car Park will be closed for parking and swimmer drop off during the day. If you are being dropped off by a supporter, this must be at the Aveton Gifford Parking field and then get a shuttle bus to the swim start.

Registration will be open at the start of the swim from 5:30am.

Please allow enough time to register, drop your bag and be ready to swim. The briefing is at 7:15am and swimmers will enter the water from 7:45am.

For those parking or camping on the Bantham Estate, shuttle buses to the start will be running from 5am.

For those parking at Aveton Gifford shuttle buses to the start from the parking field will be running from 5:30am. Alternatively it is a short 15 minute walk downhill to the start.

It’s a busy morning, so please give yourselves plenty of time to arrive, park, shuttle and register.

Aveton Gifford Parking
The Old Cricket Field,

For those parking in Aveton Gifford, the parking field is a short shuttle bus or 15 min walk to the start line. There are no parking passes but your name will be with a volunteer on the gate when you arrive.

If you are being dropped off by a supporter, they must drop you off at the parking field and NOT at the start.

To help keep the roads around Bantham clear, supporters are encouraged to park at the Aveton Gifford Parking Field and take a shuttle bus to Bantham Estate to meet you at the finish. There will be shuttle buses available for you all back to AG after the swim.

No parking in the village or on the roads close to the start/finish. Parking only in the dedicated parking areas at Aveton Gifford and Bantham Estate Park.

Car sharing is encouraged! Join the Swoosh Facebook group to find other swimmers who might be willing to share a ride.

Bantham Estate Parking
TQ7 3AN

The roads down to the Bantham Estate are incredibly busy and very tight. We advise all swimmers and spectators to park in Aveton Gifford and use our shuttle bus service.

Parking on Bantham Estate costs £11 for the day and must be purchased in advance. You will be able to book your parking and coaches in early 2025.

Click here for the google map to all the key locations.

Aveton Gifford Swimmer & Supporter Parking Field

The Old Cricket Field

The Swim Start

Timbers Car Park in Aveton Gifford, TQ7 4LQ

The Swim Finish

Bantham Estate, TQ7 3AN

Traffic Management & Road Closures

Be aware that many of the roads around Bantham will have traffic management running on them. Take a look at the map provided so you know how to navigate the area.

Swimmers Parking on Bantham Estate

The traffic to Bantham on a summer’s weekend is very heavy with regular, long tailbacks. Please avoid parking in Bantham and choose to park in Aveton Gifford if you can.

However, if you do choose to park in Bantham please follow the diversion signs to Bantham via Thurlestone and do not drive down the Bantham Beach road from Bantham Cross. See the map provided for routes available.

The roads around the event are very narrow, to help reduce the impact on the event and the environment, please do car-share where possible. The roads are winding Devon lanes with passing and single track sections so please:

● drive slowly

● pull in early

● err on the side of backing up rather than squeezing forwards

● leave plenty of space to the car in front

With these measures gridlock can be avoided. Please follow all travelling instructions, which are designed to keep traffic flowing. Just one car travelling in the wrong direction causes delays.

The Bantham Swoosh takes place on one of the most beautiful stretches of rivers, and ends on one of the most beautiful beaches, in the UK. It’s a great day out for the whole family.

Supporters are more than welcome but please be aware they need to follow a few rules to help make the day run smoothly for everyone.

Parking

We would love it if supporters parked in the Aveton Gifford parking field. There are shuttle buses available to take them to the start line, to Bantham Estate to meet you at the finish, and back to Aveton Gifford with you after the swim.

This eases congestion on the roads around Bantham and helps to keep the day running smoothly.

The Walk

We’ve introduced an amazing guided walk from Aveton Gifford to Bantham for supporters. See the next section.

Swimmer Drop Off

If a supporter is dropping you off at the start, they must do this at the parking field and NOT at the swim start in Timbers car park. This will not be allowed. Attempting to do so causes huge delays on the roads and puts people in danger.

Ideally supporters would then park in the Aveton Gifford parking field and take a shuttle bus to Bantham. However, if they would like to drive to Bantham Estate to meet you, we strongly suggest you book a parking ticket in advance, or pay on arrival.

The Bantham Swoosh is set in an incredibly beautiful part of the UK. Which is why we’ve added in a guided walk for supporters who are dropping you off in Aveton Gifford. The walk sets off around 7am, to ensure spectators reach Bantham to meet their swimmers finish.

The walk will be led by the local ramblers so you won’t get lost on the way.

It’s about 3.5 miles and should take around an hour and a half.

We will run shuttle buses for swimmers and spectators back to Aveton Gifford after the swim.

It’s steep in places with uneven surfaces throughout, so please come prepared with the correct footwear.

It’s not suitable for wheelchairs or prams.

Dogs are allowed but please keep them on the lead at all times.

Swimmer coaches are all free so please jump on any bus from Aveton Gifford or Bantham

Swimmer Pack

Your swimmer pack will be given to you when you register on the day.

The pack contains:

Numbered wristband (must be worn)

Numbered baggage tag (if you wish to drop a bag)

Skins swimmer wristband (if accepted through the skins swimmer process)

Timing chip (to be worn around the ankle)

Water Bottles

Please bring your own bottle for water refilling so we use fewer cups.

Arrival

Please arrive with enough time to park and board the shuttle bus if parking in Bantham. Please be ready to board the shuttle bus 15 minutes before it is due to depart. There are hundreds of people coming to the event so please come for the early buses. If everyone comes for the last bus you may miss the swim.

Registration

Once you’ve arrived in Aveton Gifford, head to the registration tent. Our amazing volunteers will check you in and check that you have your timing chip, give you your swimming hat and write your swimmers number on your hand.

YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE WATER UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR HAND NUMBER, YOUR WRISTBAND, TIMING CHIP AND YOUR SWIMMING HAT.

Cakes & Refreshments

The Bantham Swoosh supports Aveton Gifford swimming pool and the pre-school. They will have a fundraising cake stand at the start, please bring some cash or your bank card if you would like to support them

Changing

Changing tents are available. Please do not change in the loos as this creates long queues and is not fair on other participants who are waiting.

You can either leave bags with your supporters or give them to us to look after. Please label with tags provided in your registration pack. We will look after all small (4kg max) bags.

You can hand in your bag in Aveton Gifford - we will bring your bag to Bantham for you.

There is a camping option on Bantham Estate for the Friday evening. This will be available to purchase when we release parking and coach bookings in April 2025 via email and on your swimmer dashboard (click the pink button in your confirmation email).

Unfortunately no dogs can stay overnight at Bantham.

There are also other local options such as Higher Aunemouth Campsite, North Upton Campsite, South Devon Camping Lower Terawhiti Farm and Didwell Farm Campsite.

With help from our fabulous partners at Swim Trek we’ve created a training plan just for you.

Click here for the Swoosh Training Plan

There are no waves or pods of swimmers depending on your speed for the Bantham Swoosh. The water entry is narrow so the start is nice, slow and safe.

Once you’re in the water, it’s up to you. Enjoy the atmosphere and don’t forget to look up every now and then and enjoy the scenery around you.

Faster swimmers try to make your way to the front of the swim.

There will be a full water safety crew on the water at all times. If you need support or you notice another swimmer needs help, please alert one of the lifeguards. A full safety briefing will be provided before the swim in Aveton Gifford.

Tow floats, fins, music, GoPros, in fact any “extra” kit are not allowed at this event.

Skins Swimmer

Confirmed skins swimmers must wear their skins wristband at all times. We recommend bringing a wetsuit as well, just in case.

Once on the beautiful Bantham Beach, the walk back to the event village and car park is about 500m across the sand dunes. If you have friends/family meeting you at the finish, it’s worth giving them some warm clothes for you to wear on your return. If you have additional needs or require support across the dunes, please let us know before the event geri@levelwater.org

Swimmers Parking in Bantham
Bantham car parking covers you for the whole day.

Departing vehicles: follow the diversion signs via Buckland to the A381, and NOT exit up the Bantham Beach Road to Bantham Cross.

Swimmers Parking in Aveton Gifford

Following the swim, four waves of coaches will transport swimmers from Bantham Estate car park to the Aveton Gifford parking field: from 10am.

If you have parked at Aveton Gifford, the parking field closes at 1pm.

We will do everything we can to support swimmers with additional needs.

Access to and from the water’s edge is difficult. The closest a vehicle can reach the start line is around 50m, so a method of crossing this distance of tarmac and gravel is required.

The finish is on a sandy beach and there is a 500m journey over steep soft sand, steep narrow concrete steps and grass from the finish line back to the finish village. An alternative exit point 5.5km through the 6km swim is possible, but unfortunately this is before the best of the Swoosh itself.

If you require adjustments (e.g. access for vehicle pick-up/drop-off at start and finish villages, or putting a wheelchair into the baggage van for you) then please ensure you record this in the “medical” box of your registration form. If you could email geri@levelwater.org highlighting this, to ensure your specific needs are met, that would be helpful.

If you'd need more complex adjustments (eg assistance from a helper whilst you're in the water, exiting at the early exit point or any kind of mechanised / wheelchair access to and from the water), please email geri@levelwater.org and we will contact you to figure it out.

If you have any concerns whatsoever about your medical fitness to participate, that you consult with your GP before taking part in the swim.

Mini-swoosh is the children’s event which is a 1km swim in the main ‘swoosh’ part of the river. It will start when 75% of adult swooshers are out of the water.

Registration will be open at 8:15am and close at 9am. The briefing will be on the slip way (10 min walk from registration)

Each child must be accompanied by an adult with a 1:1 ratio unless otherwise approved. Please contact geri@levelwater.org if you or your child has any accessibility needs.