Wild swim in Patterdale - Beetham Cottage
Wild swim meet Beetham cottage 19th / 20th July 2025
Michelle Harvie, Mark Garrod, Midge Castick, John Castick, Christine Beeston, Neil Boynton, Trish Cranston, Al Metalko, Dave Wylie, Caroline Gay, Kate Harvey, Pete Atwood, Daisy (1 year old)
We were back to the Lakes this year staying at Beetham Cottage, Patterdale. The forecast was looking particularly inclement. Our car was stuck in the garage the day before we were due to go with failing brakes so Christine & Neil kindly gave us a lift.
Saturday: We headed on up to Angle Tarn. It was turning out to be a very pleasant day. Must have been as there were10 swimmers and no wetsuits, including the rarely immersed Dave Wylie who was in the water for longer than most of us. We were benefiting from the preceding warm summer - the water was around 16°. Daisy enjoyed crawling and exploring the delights of the fells as Pete skilfully diverted her from sheep poops.
Some very fit runners on the final stages of the 29 km St. Sunday Sky Race ran past us as we headed across and down to the second and final dip of the day in Hayeswater. Similar temperature and 8 swimmers. Having got dressed and vaguely warm , we then had to take shoes and socks off to cross the outflow as the bridge had got washed away by a storm. Back to the hut for a lovely evening. Kate, Pete & Daisy were camping at Brotherswater campsite.
Sunday again brought settled weather & some unexpected sun. With heavy rain forecast for lunchtime, we had a there and back walk to Silver Bay on the east shore of Ullswater (8 miles) . Water temperature was 19/20° & we had 7 swimmers. We got back just as the rain started.
A really enjoyable weekend & great company & unexpectedly good weather. One of the biggest age ranges I have seen on a KMC meet (nearly 80- 1 year). The swim team managed three swims and around 15 miles of walking, while Caroline managed the swims and more miles running in her quest to tick of Wainwrights.
Michelle Harvie
