Helford River Wild Swimming Event

At the start of 2022 there were loads of westerly winds. In an attempt to escape the dreaded ‘westerly’ we popped over to the Helford and the lesser well known Gillan Creek. Thank God for those westerlies! Ever since we’ve carried out quite a bit of activity in both areas. Both are absolutely stunning and both areas are fairly well protected from most wind directions. More importantly, both are really safe areas to swim (in the right conditions) and have very easy exit points.

For 2023 and the foreseeable future we have put together a series of wild swimming days out. These are very casual, walking - swimming days out. They’re designed specifically for people that simply want to turn up and swim at their own pace. No open water swimming experience is required and participants can swim whatever stroke they like, over very flexible distances. We typically take in 3-4 swims over an afternoon or morning.

SUMMER FOOTAGE

---

---

AERIAL FOOTAGE

Some aerial footage, shot in the winter over a number of the areas and beaches we’ll hopefully include on the 2023 day out.

NEW WILD SWIMMING EVENT!

Sun 10 Jul 2022 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

We’re a little shy on short, less serious wild swimming this year. So we created a epic event!

We're putting on 3 delightful wild swims, over the course of the day. You can walk at a leisurely pace but some of the path is slightly off road and uneven. If you're not good on your feet we'd advise you not to attend. You'll need some good walking shoes/boots. We'd recommend a tow float, purely as there are boats in the river (although they shouldn't be anywhere near us) but they are not a requirement. 

Park up at the Bosveal Car Park (National Trust) TR11 5JR and then head down to Grebe Beach...basically walk to the far end of the car park and approx 150m through a small wooded area, you'll then join the road on a big bend to the right. Don't follow the bend and head off down a track to the left...which takes you to Grebe. 

9am - swim off of Grebe Beach, around the corner towards Trebah Beach and back. A leisurely swim, past the stunning Durgan Village of approx 500 - 1500m (we'll split the water safety team if needed and offer 2 different distance routes). 

10am - We'll supply cake, you bring a flask (we'd also suggest you bring a packed lunch, snacks and a drink). 

10.30-11am - approx 1200m walk to the Helford Ferry, which we'll have pre-purchased. Ferry can take 12 people at a time. 

11.15am-ish - walk across to Bosahan Cove, through a beautiful ancient woodland. We'll then swim a circular route, back towards the ferry and sailing club. 

12.00pm - Again, approx 500-1500m at a leisurely pace. 

13.00pm - walk across to Gillan Creek 

14.15pm - circular swim at Gillan Creek, just before high tide (high tide being 14.57). 

15.15pm(ish) - walk back to the ferry and cross

16.30pm(ish) - well offer a quick wild dip at Trebah Beach for any sweaty bodies.  

...back to the cars....or pub.