Hurly Burly

North Wales, 12 September 2026

Join us for this wild and fast, season-ending 10km swim

Swim with us in 2026

Swim one of the wildest and most breathtaking routes in the UK.

Set in the dramatic Mawddach Estuary in Snowdonia, the swim begins on Barmouth’s sandy beach, sweeps under the iconic railway bridge, and carries you upstream on the fast-flowing incoming tide.

Arrive at The George III in Penmaenpool to steaming hot chocolates, a hearty meal and the unforgettable atmosphere of one of the country’s most beautiful and exhilarating adventure swims.

Charity tickets are available now for just £30 £70. Tickets will sell out fast so this is best way to guarantee your place on the swim:

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General entries are currently closed and will sell out. Register your interest today for priority access to tickets, and be the first to secure a place:

The Iconic Hurly Burly

Set in North Wales on the edge of Snowdonia, this is one of the most beautifully wild river swims you’ll find. It starts on the sandy beach of Barmouth and takes swimmers underneath Barmouth Bridge, a mile and a half wide iconic railway bridge. The first part of the swim is up the wide and sandy estuary with mountains on either side, and then it’s through ‘the narrows’ and into a more sheltered part of the estuary. Every time you look up, you are faced with the beautiful mountains of Snowdonia.

The whole swim takes place on a fast incoming tide that works like a bore to assist your swim. Past the narrows the water speeds up further, and the landscape becomes pastoral, with the banks closer to you. The fastest swimmers complete 10km in around an hour, and no more than two hours for the leisurely amongst us.

The swim ends at George III in Penmaenpool, to dry off, change, gather for hot food and warm up around the fire pit.

2025 Event Report

Swim Difficulty

This is an autumnal swim for more experienced outdoor swimmers. The route can be choppy and the conditions can change quickly, so it's important to be prepared.

Swimmers should be comfortable swimming at least 6km and be able to maintain a pace of around 40 minutes per mile (based on a steady, continuous front crawl in a pool, without big push-offs).

You may encounter colder temperatures and wind, both so bring appropriate kit, such as extra neoprene layers for swimming and a windproof layer for the run. We recommend including a variety of outdoor swims in your training, especially in windy and choppy conditions, so you're ready for whatever the day brings.

Swim Safety

We take our swim safety very seriously, and will have the following measures and support in place to give you peace of mind when taking part:

There will be a main briefing at the start for all swimmers about 45 minutes before entering the water.
15 minutes prior to the main briefing there will be a briefing for swimmers with disabilities or swimmers who require extra assistance.
There are paramedics on hand at all times and qualified lifeguards with medical training.
Our Water Safety Team will be on the water and in sight throughout the event including staff on kayaks, boats and jet skis. They include locals and have years of experience.
If you require assistance, our lifeguards are all first aid trained, qualified and experienced. They can help you take a rest, give you a little encouragement, jump you forward a bit, or bring you to the finish for medical assistance.
A warm up tent is available at the finish if you need it.

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Testimonials

“The atmosphere at the start was amazing - everyone was just so excited as we crossed the beach. Then halfway out the tide swept us away. I bumped into some of the friends I’d made as we went under the bridge. We all couldn’t stop laughing - it was such a thrill!”

“My partner and I came up for the week with our dog. Stunning scenery and loads to do in the area! In the river I remembered to look up, seeing the mountains around me was so spectacular. 10/10”

“Really well organised and friendly event. The river gave us quite the ride. Good idea to finish at a pub too.”

“Before the Hurly Burly, we didn’t know what Level Water does getting disabled kids into swimming. We’re going to come back next year with charity tickets”

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What’s included with your ticket:

timing chip
swim hat
baggage storage and transport
a beautiful enamel Hurly Burly mug and finisher’s hot chocolate to warm you up after the swim
world-class lifeguard and medical cover
travel back from the finish
personalised accessibility support (a swim that welcomes everyone)
our festival-like event village
optional merchandise (t-shirt / jumper)
delicious hot food to purchase at George III pub after the swim

FAQs

Buy a charity ticket

Why swim for Level Water?

A charity ticket is the best way to guarantee your entry. You’ll also be funding adapted swimming lessons for disabled children. Level Water provides 70,000 adapted swimming lessons every year, and we couldn’t do it without the support of people like you.