Open Water Swimming
Our Online Booking System is now available – Please click here to book
Coronavirus: On Site Precautions – March 2022
- All swimmers are expected to change on lakeside or in the open air tents both before and after their swim session. Hand Sanitisers are available.
- Please book in and order refreshments with Nicole /Registration Officer on the decking area i.e. outside.
- Please do not enter the Clubhouse
- Please do not change in the Toilet Cubicles
- The Warm Room is to be used with caution. Please change out of your wet things within the open air tent(s) and only enter the warm room if struggling with your Re-heat/Afterdrop
- If your intention is to reheat in your cars, please be mindful that cognitive skills and motor skills can be affected by cold incapacitation and Reheat / Afterdrop. Please allow at least thirty minutes for your reheat. If you are pressed for time you are welcome to bring a driver who could assist you whilst changing and whisk you away.
Kindest Wishes
Lenches Lakes Team
Lenches Lakes – Summer Swimming 2022
The Lenches Lakes Summer Open Water Swimming is open to all swimmers. Our regular swimmers comprise of a mixture of recreational swimmers enjoying the benefits of open water swimming/immersion and swimmers practising for events such as triathlons, plus river and sea swims. Our minimum requirement is that a swimmer should be able to swim 50m and be happy in water out of their depth. Wet suited and non-wet suited swimmers are welcome throughout the Summer Season.
Each session has a full safety team both Land and Water based which enables swimmers a choice of circuits . The Summer circuits comprise of 400m (approx.) 200m, 100m and 50m options. Après swim includes the availability of a warm room to reheat, hot beverages, cakes, and breakfast sandwiches .

The numbers of swimmers in each session are restricted to 45 maximum, allowing each the space to swim how they wish without pressure, intimidation, and judgement. Although the water is warmer during this season, it can still feel cold and therefore it can be useful to understand the physiological responses that your body undergoes whilst immersed in cold water. This will equip you with good practice to employ before, during and after swims.
For those who are interested we have our online ‘Revision Certificate’ on Cold Water Swimming which is a fun quiz to do whilst learning (or refreshing) yourself on the fundamentals of swimming in cold/open water. https://lencheslakes.co.uk/cold-water-swimming-revision-certificate/
Advance online booking is essential for swim sessions and all swimmers are required to complete the online Swimmers Responsibility Statement 2021– 22 before your first swim. This form only needs to be completed once.
Online Bookings and Payment in advance only – . Please do not arrive on site without pre booking and paying, there is no facility for refunds for missed or late arrivals.
In addition to the above, all swimmers intending to swim through the Summer Season will need to purchase a ‘Beyond Swim Wristband’. Please click here
The wristbands act as a ‘safety tracker’ whilst you are in the water but also act as your own personal ‘medical ID band’. The bonus being that the wristband can be worn away from the lake and easily ‘unlocked/locked’ by you ….so for example if you are out running, cycling, paddleboarding/swimming etc. There is a ‘one-off’ cost for the wristband, but no annual subscription or membership fees– the band is yours and will only need replacing if it is lost or damaged. We will have ‘guest wristbands’ available for those people coming to visit the lake and swim, however there will be a small charge for this.
Rescheduling, Cancellation and Refunds
Please note we do not offer Cancellation or Missed Session Refunds. However you may reschedule your swim session up to 24 hours in advance.
To reschedule
- Go to your account dashboard and select ORDERS
- Scroll down until you see the Reschedule Button – nb this will not appear if it is too late to reschedule
- Click on the button and follow the instructions to reschedule
Swim Sessions are:-
- Monday evening 5.00 – 6.00 pm, 6.00 – 7.00 pm and 7.00 – 8.00 pm
- Thursday morning 8.00 – 9.00 am, 9.00 – 10.00 am and 10.00 am – 11.00 am
- Thursday evening 5.00 – 6.00 pm, 6.00 – 7.00 pm and 7.00 – 8.00 pm
- Saturday morning 7.00 – 8.00 am, 8.00 – 9.00 am, 9.00 – 10.00 am and 10.00 am – 11.00 am
- The viability of these sessions will be revised at intervals during the season and maybe adjusted.
Occasional Guests
We welcome guests and realise the practicality of attending a Winter Swimming Information Session prior to their visit is difficult. We ask all guests to be experienced open water swimmers who have been We welcome ‘guest swimmers’ to Lenches Lakes and all we ask is that they can swim at least 50 metres with minimal difficulty and can also ‘tread water’ when needed, as they will be out of their depth at times around the lake. Guests will not need to purchase a ‘swim wristband’ as ‘guest wristbands’ will be available, however there will be a small charge for this.
Car Parking
Summer car parking is on the field. Please follow the signs to the field, you can then walk through wood to the lake.
Bikes – we do not have racks, we have trees! Please bring security chain with you.
Changing
Changing to take place lakeside, tented changing area or in warm room (limited space) if bad weather.
We do not have separate changing areas for male and female
Please bear in mind we do not have lockers, please do not bring valuable items, or use a tow float with dry bag incorporated for phones/keys/wallets, or lock valuables in car.
Toilets and showers – are available. Showers cost £1 which provides you with hot water for up to 4 minutes.
Swimmers
All swimmers must wear a bright hat and if not wearing a wetsuit, a Tow Float must be worn . Tow Floats can be hired for £2.50 per person per swim session.
Pre / Post Swim
ADVICE | REASON |
Pre Swim Cover open wounds Do not swim if feeling unwell | To prevent microbial access to the body If the immune system is suppressed by illness you are more susceptible to infection |
Advised not to swim wearing contact lenses | Risk in ANY water including tap water of Acanthamoeba Keratitis |
Post Swim Wash hands before eating or drinking (or use sterilising wipes/gels) | To reduce the risk of ingesting pathogenic microbes |
Shower in fresh water at the earliest opportunity | To remove all microbes, many of which are able to survive on the skin surface for long periods |
Rinse and wash all kit in fresh water before drying thoroughly – including wetsuit, goggles, swimming costume | To remove all microbes and potentially prevent toxin concentration in/on the item that can cause skin irritations and eye infections |
Seek medical advice if you feel ill or develop symptoms including rashes for up to 3 weeks following your swim – highlighting that you have been swimming in open water (and where) | It can take up to 3 weeks for the symptoms of Weil’s Disease to develop. |
Sharing information can help identify the source and nature of the problem and the most effective treatment. It can also help identify problems with particular bodies of water |
Junior Policy
Swimmers under 18 years of age
Lenches Lakes supports the provision of open water swimming opportunities for children who wish to participate from the age they are confident and competent swimmers.
Under 12 years
- Parent/legal guardian permission, Swimmer Responsibility Registration document signed and completed by parent/guardian
- A competency test1 by session leader on duty.
- The swimmer being accompanied in and out of the water by a responsible adult aged 18 or over
12 – 16 years
Participation is subject to:
- Parent/legal guardian permission, Swimmer Responsibility Registration document signed and completed by parent/guardian
- A competency test1 by Session Leader on duty.
- The swimmer being accompanied on site by a responsible adult aged 18 or over
16 – 18 years
Participation is subject to:
- Parent/legal guardian permission, Swimmer Responsibility Registration document signed and completed by parent/guardian
- A competency test1 by Session Leader on duty.
All Juniors are required to;
- Swim with a Tow Float
- Wear a bright hat
- Juniors required to to wear wetsuits – swim technical wetsuits. These wetsuits are designed specifically to enhance the swimmers body position, overall comfort, provides buoyancy and insulation. Juniors tend to cool more rapidly than adults having more insulation allows for a longer and safer swim time.
- Swimmer must have previous Open Water experience and/or strong Club Swimmer
- Each junior if unknown to Safety Team will be assessed for competency by Session Leader.
- If Session Leader deems them to be a high-risk swimmer the swimmer will be asked to leave the lake.
- Parent/legal guardian permission, Swimmer Responsibility Registration document signed and completed by parent/guardian
- The swimmer being accompanied on site by a responsible adult aged 18 or over
Lifeguards or Land Based safety team will politely ask weak swimmers to leave the session or restrict swimmer to acclimatisation area if swimmer safety is comprised.
Disability Swimming
The course design will not require change for swimmers with walking difficulties. Access via regular entry