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Open Water Swimming

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Open Water Swimming

Open Water Swimming

Box End Park welcomes all open water swimmers who are looking for a venue to carry out swim training. Note that our swim sessions are not suitable for people looking for a beach area to relax, or for the kids to have a splash around! Our lakes are spring fed, making the water incredibly clean and safe for swimmers. Our site is fully serviced with free & secure car parking, changing rooms and lockers. We have land and water based lifeguards present during all sessions. Rental wetsuits are available and cost £5 to hire!

Please kindly note from 1st January 2024 all swimmers must wear a brightly coloured swim cap and we strongly advise wearing a tow float on your person at all times whilst swimming. 

If you don't already have a tow float - you can buy your own Zone 3 float in Reception or hire one for £2.50!

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"Just wanted to say thank you for all the swim training sessions you put on. I started Open Water Swimming last year and love it - feel incredibly lucky to have Box End Park on my doorstep and amazing staff that organise, lifeguard and have reception open every week! Gorgeous venue, beautiful lakes and a real sense of swimming community!"

Open Water Swimming Rules:

  • You must be capable of swimming 750m without stopping.
  • You must not have any medical condition (such as heart disease, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes) which may impact your ability to safely partake in open water swimming. If you are unsure, please seek the advice of a GP.
  • You must check in at the Box End Park Reception before each swim and ensure you understand the session timings and which lake to use.
  • You must wear a brightly coloured swim cap and we strongly advise wearing a tow float on your person at all times whilst swimming.
  • Goggles and wetsuits are optional but recommended.
  • You must enter and exit the water at the designated points.
  • In the event you get into difficulty during the swim session, you must roll on to your back and signal for rescue by raising an arm in the air.
  • A safety observer will be present during all swim sessions however, Box End Park will not provide full lifeguard cover. For this reason, we strongly recommend you swim with a buddy or swim within a 15 metre distance of another swimmer during the session. In the event of seeing another swimmer getting into difficulty, you must raise the alarm to a staff member.
  • In the event of a thunderstorm, failing light, fog or high winds, the safety observer may decide to end a session. If you are asked to exit the lake then please do so immediately.
  • You must acknowledge that the lake is a natural environment. Lake banks may be slippery and there may be sharp stones underfoot. There are various ramps, buoys and ropes within the water which must be avoided. If you do not feel comfortable with these hazards then you should not swim in this open water environment.
  • Our 5K grass running trail is open for people training before or after a booked swim, but not outside of these times.

Open Water Swimming Lakes & Courses

Our morning Open Water Swim sessions tend to take place in our Southern Cable Lake, whilst our afternoon & evening swims usually take place over the bridge, in our Northern Boat Lake! However, this may change week-to-week as we have lots of different activities running alongside our swimming & exciting multi-sport events on throughout the year! Please make sure you understand which lake to use & ask our friendly Reception team when checking-in for your swim session.

* The courses above are used for our public swim sessions only. Swim events & races held at Box End Park may differ slightly from the above. Please check with the event organiser for event specific information.

Multi-Sport Races & Swim Events

In addition to open water swim training, Box End Park hosts a full calendar of multi-sports events. There is the chance to get involved in a range of races from dog triathlons to long distance swim events! 

Follow the link below to see what's on . . . 


What's On?



 

Independent Swimming Coaches

If you are new to Open Water Swimming, or looking to improve your technique, then we can recommend some great independent coaches who can help you with all elements of your swimming:

We take great pride in our water quality and have it regularly tested to ensure it exceeds the standards recommended for bathing water. We also undergo a programme of lake dying and cutting to ensure weed is kept to a minimum.

For the adventure seekersDigital Gift vouchers

Looking for that perfect gift? Our Gift Vouchers make the perfect present for anyone wanting to enjoy watersports activities at Box End Park!

Use the button below to head over to our booking system and purchase a Gift Voucher. The voucher will be valid for 12 months from the date of the purchase.

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