Lake District: Cross Country Swim
(with Above Below)
Location: Lake District
Date: TBC 2024
Age limit: 18+
Entry: TBC
Fundraising Target: £TBC
Distances
41km Walk
9km swim
5,000ft of assent
Camping
Register your interest for 2024
This is spectacular.
In two days you’ll hike 41km through the Lake District’s magical landscape. Climb 5000ft up its beautiful hills. Swim 9km across its stunning lakes. And camp under the pitch black skies.
Join as an individual and be connected with others to make a pod of swimmers of similar ability. Or any friends who want to join you on this pioneering challenge.
There will be ‘stamps’ you need to get for your pod to prove you visited the key peaks and places on the route. The rest is up to you.
This is about enjoyment not endurance. It’s a huge challenge. It’s epic and it offers a whole new way to enjoy the landscape and experience the wilder side of the Lake District.
You’ll hike with all of your kit and when you reach the waters edge, the Ruckraft comes into play. Simply inflate it, get into your wetsuit, pop your bag in the dry bag and attach it to the Ruckraft. And away you go.
Your entry fee covers entry into the event, 3 nights accommodation (probably camping), food and drink (but bring your own snacks), lifeguard cover for your team and a Ruckraft.
The Route
On foot we take in classic lakeland fells with Wainwright's favourite peak of Haystacks and our favourite, Great Gable. The Swims are in the most remote and pristine of the lakes and avoiding risks of biosecurity.
Day 1
Swim Buttermere, across Haystacks and up to Great Gable. If you set off early and make good time - there’s a chance to get a bite to eat at the Wasdale Inn before the final Swim of Wastwater to the YHA where we’ll camp.
Day 2
Swimming half of Wastwater and then a long hike back over to Crummock Water via Ennerdale, Red Pike and Millbreak. Finishing at the beautiful Nether How beach in Buttermere.
Accommodation
You’ll be camping throughout this wild challenge. But the Ruckraft means you’ll be able to take all your kit with you while you swim! Full kit list once you sign up.
What is a Ruckraft?
As told by the creator, Will Watt
We love adventuring across lakes and down rivers, over hills and through forests. We call it cross country swimming and to make it possible, we created the RuckRaft®. Opening up new routes over land and water.
The RuckRaft® is a simple, portable two-piece kit to transform all your gear into a raft you can easily tow while swimming. It is light, tough, practical and all designed, tested and made in the UK exclusively by AboveBelow®.
Purpose built to carry anything you need, anywhere. The streamline design and superior buoyancy means the RuckRaft® glides across the water with minimum drag, even when fully loaded.
Kit List
This isn’t an extensive list. It’s the essentials.
Wetsuit
Ruckraft (yours as part of the entry fee)
Googles & swim hat (Level Water will give you a swim hat)
Very lightweight tent, sleeping bag, mat (we’ll transport your camping gear for you)
Hiking backpack
Hiking gear
Water bottle & mug
