Early morning mist at Waterhead Pier. The ferries from Bowness are running a regular service here as part of the Park, Sail and Walk scheme for visitors travelling to the Low Wood to attend the Great North Swim.
Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th September at the Low Wood Hotel and Marina on the shores of Lake Windermere. It is the UK's biggest open water swim. Last year's inaugural event attracted 2000 swimmers...this year it has 6000 entries to swim an open water mile for one of the many charities supported by the event. It is sponsored by British Gas.
Early morning mist at Waterhead Pier. The ferries from Bowness are running a regular service here as part of the Park, Sail and Walk scheme for visitors travelling to the Low Wood to attend the Great North Swim.
7.30am....arrivals at Waterhead already......
.....Miller Brow on Loughrigg appearing through the mist.
Patrol boats warming up for the day.
The trek from Waterhead....
....to the Low Wood.....
....it's over there somewhere.
Spectators bagging a good......
.....viewing spot.
The action takes place from the Low Wood waterfront. The very busy A591 separates the hotel from the lake. I guess that the owners, English Lakes Hotels, wish that it could be re-directed.
Final preparations under way......
Time for a cuppa and a bacon bun.....
The swim start point and grandstand.
Changing facilities....
......and essential facilities
The canoes are to assist people who are in trouble, indicated by treading water and raising their hand.
The entry ramp...the first wave of swimmers go at 9am.
The holding area for the groups by the ramp.
28½ minutes to go....
....the MC arrives.....
...and has a long chat to Sky TV's Julian Crabtree. He is going to attempt to swim with every wave of swimmers. Each wave leaves at 30 min intervals so he has to swim the open water mile and get back to the start in 30 min. If he achieves this it will total 48 miles, the equivalent of two English Channel crossings.
This is the back of the head of Dr Hillary Jones, GMTV's resident doc.....
...and this brave man in the speedos.....
...being asked if the Budgy will survive the cold.
43 sec to go....
...250 swimmers in each wave, all with different coloured hats to identify the group.
...all have a microchip on the ankle for security and swim time.
The course is around the yellow buoys....
.....the two red ones mark the finish.
One mile to go....
The second wave with yellow hats acclimatise to the water temperature, approx 16 degrees....
....as they go, the mist starts to lift....
...the Langdale Pikes and Loughrigg come into view....
Getting crowded......a perfect location, a perfect day and perfect causes.
The blue caps complete the course.....
....I think that everybody gets to stand here....
Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary included....
....when the reporters have finished with him.
A back drop...Coniston Old Man.
Sunday crowds at Holme Crag point overlooking Lowwood Bay.....
...even a band...
Motorists enjoying a quiet drive around the lake.....
The Low Wood Marina.
Julian Crabtree arriving back at the start line via buggy from the previous swim so that he can join the last wave and complete his goal of swimming in every wave.
The last wave set off...
A busy 2 days.
Back to Waterhead....
Long queues for the ferries back to Bowness.....
The fastest swim of the weekend in the Elite Mens category was by Russian, Danill Serebrennikov in 16min 23 sec.