Summer Open Water Swim Programme 2027
Description
Ready to take your open water swimming further? Join this five-swim series designed to help you build confidence, improve technique, and extend the distance of your wild swims.
If you already dip regularly in open water and feel prepared for the next step, this programme may be the right fit. It is created for aspiring wild swimmers who want to learn how to swim farther and faster outdoors.
Across five sessions, experienced open water swim coach Harriet Ballantyne and wild swim guide Sheena Corry will support your development with stroke technique work, video feedback, and clear focus points to practise between sessions. The programme begins with technical foundations and gradually progresses toward a longer swim effort, all while exploring some of the most beautiful wild swimming locations in North Wales.
After the final swim, there will also be time to relax and unwind in The Forge sauna.
The five swims will take place at 10am on the following dates:
Session 1 - Sunday 9th May
ACCLIMATISING FOR THE NEW SEASON
- Getting comfortable in the water
- Breathwork focus for relaxation in the water
- Chatting about goals for the season
- Initial stroke feedback
- Mobility work
Session 2 - Sunday 6th June
FRONT CRAWL & BREASTSTROKE FOR OPEN WATER
- Breathwork consolidation and troubleshooting
- Individual stroke development and feedback
- Stroke development for open water
- Strength session with individual feedback focus points for homework
- Mobility
Session 3 - Sunday 4th July
SIGHTING
- Technique development ongoing
- Sighting progression
- Building endurance
- Strength feedback and programme development
- Mobility session - troubleshooting
Session 4 - Sunday 1st August
TURNS & NUTRITION
- Important stroke troubleshooting
- Turn practice around buoys
- Short course set up for a longer swim focus
- Nutrition and mobility
Session 5 - Sunday 29th August
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER
- Ongoing technique development
- Turn practice around buoys
- Strength and mobility continuation
- Continue nutrition conversations
- Sauna and contrast therapy with lunch at The Forge
Exact swim locations will be confirmed in advance of each session, depending on weather conditions and water quality, and all venues will be in the North Wales area.
The full programme price for all five swims is £300pp and includes tuition, video feedback, and ongoing virtual support through group chats and 1:1 contact with the coaches. Hot drinks and homemade cake after each swim are also included.
If you are unable to attend every date, individual sessions are available for £75pp.
Teachers: Harriet Ballantyne (Open Water Swim Coach), Sheena Corry (Wild Swim Guide)
Images: [A photograph of the back of a woman zipping up her wetsuit], [Distance-Open-Water-Swimmers], [Llyn-Tegid], [Hattie-3], [DSCF7543], [DSCF7516]
Accommodation Options
Shepherd's Hut (1 or 2 bedrooms)
This secluded hut offers a peaceful escape for guests looking to slow down and reconnect with nature. Designed with a Nordic-inspired sense of calm, it creates a simple yet restorative setting for a restorative stay. Depending on your needs, the hut is available with either one or two bedrooms, making it a flexible choice for solo travelers, couples, or small groups.
One of the highlights of the experience is the private sauna, where you can warm up and unwind in total privacy. For a more invigorating contrast, wild swimming is also part of the setting, adding a refreshing outdoor element to your stay. Together, these features create a balanced rhythm of heat, cold, and quiet that supports relaxation and a deeper sense of well-being.
With its wood-fired sauna and tranquil atmosphere, this hut is ideal for guests seeking a simple retreat surrounded by nature, comfort, and stillness.
Place
