Agatha Christie Sea Swim

The Agatha Christie Swim Weekend

The Agatha Christie Sea Swim will be returning with a brand-new format over the weekend of Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 July. The event was created to celebrate the author’s love of sea swimming and to raise money for Rowcroft Hospice and the Agatha Christie Festival charity.

For the first time this year, we will be offering both routes over a single weekend, with confident open water swimmers invited to choose either one of the swim routes – or for the truly adventurous – the double!

We’ve moved the swim to the summer this year for a few practical reasons – including better availability of safety support, avoiding clashes with other maritime events, and the capacity of our team (who are all volunteers).

Full safety support is being provided, while the event is open to all strong swimmers over the age of 18, who can comfortably swim a mile.

Saturday 11 July | 3pm–5pm (High tide 3.54pm)
Broadsands → Goodrington South

Sunday 12 July | 3pm–5pm (High tide 5.04pm)
Beacon Cove → Meadfoot Beach

We’re also planning a social event on Saturday evening, so why not make a weekend of it? 

Entry fees

• £35 – Single swim
• £60 – Double swim

Your entry includes a branded swim hat, full safety support, and an exclusive finisher’s gift.

As always, all profits go to charity:

• Rowcroft Hospice
• The Agatha Christie Festival charity, which funds free creative literacy activities for local school children.

Thanks to your incredible support, the swim raised more than £6,000 for charity in 2025.

Important Note #1

The Agatha Christie Sea Swim is not a race, but a relaxed “sightseeing swim”. However, each route is around one mile in open water, which can involve challenging conditions. Participation is therefore limited to confident open-water swimmers 18 and over, who have trained and prepared appropriately.

Important Note #2

If the swim has to be cancelled due to adverse weather or pollution alerts, we will unfortunately be unable to offer refunds. Swimmers will still receive their hats and gifts, with all remaining funds donated to the charities. If possible, we will also organise a fun alternative activity.

Route 1
Broadsands → Goodrington South

We will leave from Broadsands Beach, where Agatha would enjoy swimming with her grandson Mathew when enjoying summer holidays at Greenway. We would highly recommend the walk over to Elberry Cove (where a body was found in the ABC Murders) before the start of the swim.

Starting at Broadsands, the route will take people past Shell Cove, Armchair Rock and Saltern Cove, finishing off at Goodrington.

The event finishes at Goodrington Sands, where there is a shower, toilets and the fantastic Cantina, where we can all socialise after.

• 3.00pm - 1st Wave departs from Broadsands
• 3.15pm – 2nd Wave departs from Broadsands
• 3.30pm – 3rd Wave departs from Broadsands

Route 2
Beacon Cove → Meadfoot Beach

We will leave from Beacon Cove, where Agatha swam as a child when it was the Ladies' Bathing Place and swim past the Imperial Hotel, which is featured in several of her books. The swim then hugs the coast past Peaked Tor Cove (the former Gentlemen's Bathing Place) and then past Dyers Quarry and on to London Bridge Arch. It’s possible to swim under this natural arch before continuing along past a huge cave known as Thunder Hole or Daddy Hole - it was once believed that the devil lived in this cave, so you’ll need to be brave to venture inside.

The last past of the swim takes you past West Shag Rock and into the elegant curve of Meadfoot Bay overlooked by the majestic 19th century Osborne Hotel. The beach was one of the first to allow mixed bathing and was a favourite with Agatha, who would spend her summers with her sister Madge and her nephew Jack on what was considered the more aristocratic and fashionable beach.

The event finishes on Meadfoot Beach where there is a shower, toilets and a café.

• 3.00pm - 1st Wave departs from Beacon Cove
• 3.15pm – 2nd Wave departs from Beacon Cove
• 3.30pm – 3rd Wave departs from Beacon Cove