Safe Swimming Guide - Lamorna Cove
/This beach can get swell and chop from any southerly wind. Again, be wary of swimming here once the tide has turned and is going out, particularly with big Spring tides.
Safe Swimming Guide - Gannel Estuary
/Whilst this is a safe guide to swimming the Gannel Estuary please remember that it is only a guide. There are no guarantees to safety, when open water swimming. If unsure or not very experienced either take a guide / water safety or don’t attempt the swim.
Assisted swims in Cornwall
/During the summer we often took out 2 rescue boards per paddler (water safety member), so we attached one board to the other using a leash. This was a Covid measure….so that if someone had stitch, cramp, had some sort of issue they could clamber onto the extra board without having to come into close contact with any of the rescue crew. This was a very good system (not that anyone actually needed it) and it also got Tom and Jo thinking.
We’ve had lots of enquiries, had a few nervous swimmers….there are lots of swimmers out there that want to complete various A to B swims but are nervous about the conditions and distance. So they miss out. We’d like to be as inclusive as possible but we’re also realistic - and have to be from a safety point of view.
So as of the 2021 season we’re offering a new service. We’ll offer people the opportunity to complete various swims that may not generally be open to them….because of their fitness, confidence, a disability….whatever the reason.
We’ll take swimmers on 1-2-1 swims around places like St Michael’s Mount and Kynance Cove using 2 rescue boards - which will be attached. The swimmer can pick-and-choose the sections of the swim that they complete and then hop onto the rescue board and get a tow around other sections…and a well deserved rest. This will ultimately allow the swimmer the experience of completing some world class, bucket-list worthy swims, without necessarily completing the entire distance. Opening up a whole new list of swims for lots of individuals.
If you are interested in this service simply contact us next summer and we’ll give you the full rundown.
Swimming St Michael's Mount
/We’ve officially lost count of the number of swimmers that we’ve taken around St Michael’s Mount. We’ve swum people to the harbour wall (away from the harbour mouth), we’ve swum them around the Mount, we’ve swum around the Mount as part of a 10k swim, we’ve swum around the Mount and back, we’ve done it at high tide, mid-tide and low tide, big groups, small groups, individuals…. We’ve even recently done it at night! NEXT YEAR we’ll offer assisted swims around the Mount for people unsure whether they’d make the distance. We’ll simply tow you part of the way, on your own rescue board and you can then choose when to jump off and swim sections of this amazing swim.
One thing that never changes is the stunning view. We think the best view available is from the rear East side. It takes in the castle and beautiful sub-tropical gardens.
Despite being a 3km swim, where you’ll be out of site whilst you’re swimming around the back, this is a fairly safe swim (in the correct conditions). It’s never particularly deep, if it isn’t too choppy it’s possible to exit the water at certain points. What we would say is - swim with a friend, take a mobile in a tow float (TAKE A TOW FLOAT), watch out for boats, inform someone of your swim and when you should be back, check the conditions and if you’re unsure don’t swim.
Swimming around the Mount isn’t always possible. There are often small boats ferrying people to the island. Avoid this boat lane.
WHEN TO SWIM IT
You can swim the Mount at any stage of tide. At low tide it’s tricky to exit/enter the water at the east side of the island, as seaweed prevents you from seeing the bottom. It is however, a shorter swim (being low tide), so you can swim the island anti-clockwise then turn back on yourself and finish where you started…the beach.
Mid-tide…from around 3.5m of tidal height entry and exit of the swim is fairly straight forward. Easiest to get out on the causeway. A mid-tide swim is around 2-2.5km in length. Best to swim clockwise around, as you’ll have no issues exiting the water at the beach.
High tide offers around 2.7-3km of swimming. You never really have anything to worry about in terms of currents but I would avoid swimming around on a large Spring tide.
WIND STRENGTH / DIRECTION
The longest swimming stretch around the island is on the west side of the island, running along the harbour wall. This should be one of your main considerations. When looking at the wind direction.
A light northerly is one of the best options as the wind hits the water where you’ll be setting off and doesn’t have a chance to create chop. Be aware though that you will have to swim against the wind on your way in.
In contrast, a strong southerly is the worst wind direct as the wind has hundreds of miles to influence the water and build up lots of choppy conditions. That chop will then hit the land and bounce back…creating carnage!
Generally, you want light wind under 20kmph, with little chance of increasing whilst your swimming.
BOAT TRAFFIC
There are regular small ‘ferries’ to the harbour so you need to be careful if you’re crossing the harbour mouth or their regular route. I’d advise that you where a tow float. The midday sun often makes it quite difficult for the drivers to see swimmers.
Last minute swims - Summer 2020
/This year we’re putting on a series of last minute swims. We’ll access the week’s weather forecast and by Tuesday / Wednesday we’ll publish where we’re putting on swims for that weekend. We’ll try and include bucket list worthy locations like Porthcurno, St Michael’s Mount, Kynance Cove, the Island in St Ives…
You can book once we’ve published the swims or pre-book a group or individual swim and we’ll match up the conditions with an appropriate swim. This way you get the most enjoyment out of your swim possible, in the safest conditions possible.
£30 per head.
Sea Swim Cornwall - Safe Swimming Guide. Rinsey Cove
/One of our favourites. A little remote but that isn’t a bad thing. If you’re unsteady on your feet probably best to avoid this one. Avoid the point in the direction of Praa Sands, particularly on an outgoing tide. You can get a .5-1 knot current running along there.
Sea Swim Cornwall - Safe Swimming Guide, the Island, St Ives
/Get the conditions right and you’ll be talking about this swim for years to come!
Sea Swim Cornwall's Safe swimming Guide - Porthminster
/Welcome to Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall. Good all-rounder. Just be aware that parking can be a problem in the main season…even if you get there early! Could be worth parking up at St Erth train station and getting the train in. Great train ride too.
Sea Swim Cornwall's Safe Swimming Guide - St Just-in-Roseland
/This one is an absolute stunner! A little remote and slightly tricky to find but well worth the effort. The tiny harbour at St Just-in-Roseland offers one of the most stunning starts and finishes to a swim that you could imagine! Finishing in a quaint little harbour, in the shadow of a stunning church and gardens. I’d go as far as to say that this could be a bucket-lister.
Sea Swim Cornwall's Safe Swimming Guide - Portscatho / Porthcurnick Beach
/After a fantastically successful swimming holiday in St Mawes / River Fal we thought we’d start sharing some of the swims…and there are so many!
First off the docks is Porthcurnick Beach to Portscatho and back, although you could get out at Portscatho harbour and walk back. Approx 2km.
Sea Swim Cornwall Safe Swimming Guide - Penzance Sea Front
/There are loads of local swimming groups to Penzance. It’d be well worth doing some research and contacting a couple before travelling down.
Sea Swim Cornwall's Safe Swimming Guide - Carbis Bay
/This is what Jo would call a good old ‘Cornish Classic swim’.
Sea Swim Cornwall's Safe Swimming Guide - Newquay Bay
/Starting from the harbour and working your way across the beach. THIS IS A WORKING HARBOUR AND HAS LOTS OF TRAFFIC. We’d advise that you don’t swim out through the harbour mouth. There us also a jet ski hire business operating from Lusty Glaze.
Sea Swim Cornwall Safe Swimming Guide - Mousehole
/Great swim. Just be really careful swimming through the harbour mouth. This is a quiet harbour but the odd boat does sail/motor through the harbour mouth. Also, if the tide is going out you sometimes (esp with Spring tides) get a bit of a current passing through the mouth. If you get stuck simply exit either side of the harbour, rather than swimming through the mouth.
Sea Swim Cornwall's Safe Swimming Guide - Fistral
/We’d strongly advise that you stay within the bay whilst swimming. The lifeguard service runs for a large percentage of the year, so speak to the lifeguards before swimming.
World famous for surfing. It’s also a fantastic place to swim if there aren’t any waves.
Sea Swim Cornwall’s Safe Swimming Guide
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Tom’s home stretch of beach. Very reliable and safe. Perfect for any beginners or someone lacking confidence. If you swim just before or after high tide it’s very shallow the whole way across. Very easy to either swim a short distance to shallow water or swim in shallow water and simply put your feet down.