The Secret SwimWalk is a fully guided and supported SwimWalk around the wooded tracks and trails of Northern Snowdonia. The route involves 400m of ascent and is an exhilarating excursion for those that take it on. The scenery is beautiful: you can expect forest fire roads, technical narrow foot paths, secluded lakes, and fantastic views. There will be 4 secluded swims in different locations & plenty of snack stops! The route is circular, so you’ll finish up back at your cars. We are offering a limited number of spaces for this challenge. There will be a maximum of 15 people.

Total distance: 10km
Total ascent: 400m
Legs: 6 walks and 4 swims
Price: £70pp (including £3 booking fee)
Location: Near Betws-Y-Coed
Places available: 15 on each SwimWalk

Why the ‘Secret’?

It’s all part of the fun and adventure! We like surprises and we like to keep our favourite trails and swimming spots under the radar, sharing them with just a special few! The route will be kept a secret until the day of the challenge and the meeting place will be sent to you just a few days before (but you will be given an idea of the rough location once you enter).

It’s not a race!

These are sociable challenges, not races, so there will be no medal for you at the end, but you will take away with you some fantastic memories, some new friends, and a big smile (and possibly cold toes)!

The Walking

The walk is 10km in total but you do have option to drop out early and miss the last swim if you get tired. The walking is mostly on gravel tracks but there are some uneven, rooty and muddy sections and there is about 400m total ascent. You will need to carry a rucksack with your food, flask, warm layers and swim kit for one swim on each walk section. Please use walking poles if you are at all unsteady on your feet.

The Swims

The swims are all out and back dips so you can swim as little or as far as you like (although we only have a limited time at each location and we need to keep the group moving so we stay warm)

We will provide the following:

• Qualified Guides: you’ll have no worries about getting lost, just relax and enjoy your surroundings and the SwimWalk!
• Mobile support: located as close as possible to each swim will be a van carrying your spare gear should you wish to change or drop out, first aid provision and lots of food and drink to keep you going!
• Treats and drink: we ask you to carry some high calorie snacks and a flask of hot drink on the challenge yourself to keep you fuelled up and to help keep you warm, but we’d normally provide hot drinks and cake but due to Covid-19 we cannot do this. We will provide hot water and will have them waiting for you at each checkpoint throughout the challenge.
• First Aid: guides are fully first aid trained and will be carrying first aid kits.
• Emergency transport: If something happens and you can’t continue, through injury or because you get too cold, we’ll take care of getting you back to the start. We’ll also carry any spare clothing that you may want at during the SwimWalk.

Pace, Ability & Experience

The is a sociable challenge and the ability of the members of the group will vary so please be aware that you may not be traveling as fast as you might if you were walking alone! The pace will be dictated by the guide, taking into account the ability of the group as a whole. We will need to keep moving at a good pace to keep warm. You will need a good level of fitness to take part. If you struggle during the event and this begins to impact on the well being of the rest of the group we may politely ask you to retire, or at least skip one or two of the longer sections. You MUST be experienced and confident in you ability in open water, and be used to cold water!

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE IS NO WATER SUPPORT ON ANY OF THE SWIMS – YOU MUST BE A CONFIDENT AND CAPABLE SWIMMER.

Equipment required:

Please pack kit for the worst case scenario relevant to the date you have book to join us. In summer it could be lovely and warm but at any time of year in North Wales we can have cool days and plenty of wind and rain! We will keep moving as much as possible but please come prepared for the cold!

We recommend you wear/bring:

For walking:

• Suitable walking gear – layers of technical, insulated and wicking fabrics – no jeans or cotton
• Stout walking shoes or boots with warm socks (it may be wet, muddy and slippery).
• Full set of waterproofs – jacket and over trousers
• Spare dry socks
• Spare dry baselayer
• Gloves & hat
• Rucksack/backpack
• If it’s hot and sunny: suncream (‘reef friendly’ please – chemicals in sunscreen can be very harmful to aquatic life), sun hat & sun glasses
• Walking poles of you require them

Synthetic fabrics are best as they will wick any sweat away from your body and keep you dry. Wool is also quite good as it will keep you warm even if you are damp. Lots of layers are good, rather than one thick layer, so you can take layers off and regulate your heat better – e.g. a technical thermal base layer, a fleece and waterproof jacket. You might also want an insulated jacket or a second fleece of you think you’ll suffer with the cold after the swims. Please bring a complete set of dry clothes to leave in your cars for after we finish the SwimWalk as it is not easy to get warm again in damp clothes!

For swims: Tow float is mandatory on all swims.

• Swimming costumes
• Rash vests or neoprene vests
• Neoprene accessories – shoes, gloves, socks, hat
• Googles
• Bright swim hat (bring ones you already have, we won’t be supplying any to save waste, but we do have a big bag of old ones if you need to borrow any!)
• Wetsuits are optional but you will need to be very fast getting in and out of it!
• Mandatory Tow float – there will be no water safety cover.
• Towels or changing robes – You might want to bring a couple so you have a dry one to swap to if one gets too wet or a bit muddy.
• Changing mat – something to stand on like a foam mat or thick plastic bag
• Plastic bags or dry bags to keep wet wet kit away from dry kit!

We’ll be doing 4 swims so if you will need 4 costumes - one for each to prevent possible cross contamination of any invasive species between lakes.

You MUST also bring and carry with you:

• High energy snacks & lunch
• Water
• Flask of hot drink for when we cannot access the van, and a mug for when we can.
• Fully charged mobile phone
• Personal medication – please inform us of any medical conditions that are relevant when entering.

Further Information

Further information on logistics on the day and individual leg distances will be available one week before the day.

Restrictions

• Participants must be age 18+ to take part in this event. Participants age 16+ may take part if accompanied by another participant aged 18+.
• Only people who have entered the event will be able to take part, so non-swimming friends/partners and children may NOT accompany you.
• We are sorry but we do NOT allow dogs to come on these events.

Covid-19 considerations

Covid-19 restrictions are still in place in North Wales and we must adhere to social distancing rules. We are able to meet outdoors in small groups but if the regulations change or we head back into lockdown we may be forced to cancel the event. If we do have to cancel you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund minus the booking fee of £3.