If 2026 is your year to go big with your swimming goals, here are my favourite 10km+ open water swim races across the UK. Think lakes, rivers, docklands & wild seas. Book early, train smart, & enjoy the adventure.

Great North Swim 10km - Lake District

Festival energy on Windermere with thousands of swimmers. What a way to kick off your season.

Fast facts:

- Dates: 12-14 Jun 2026‍

- Location: Lake Windermere, Cumbria

- Distance: 10km (6 x 1-mile laps)

- Entry: £95 with saver entry

- Water type: Lake

- Tide-assisted: Nope

- Feed stations: 3 optional stations offering water, energy drinks & sweets

- Prizes: All finishers get a medal 

- Kit: wetsuits optional 

- Cut-off time: 4.5 hours

- Link: catchswim.com/swimming-races/the-great-north-swim-10k

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Highs:

- Buzzy event village with music, food & crowds

- Easy to spectate - great for bringing friends or family

- Superb safety & organisation - slick from start to finish

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Lows:

- Busy course, especially at the start

- Lapped format can feel repetitive

- Windermere can get choppy in certain conditions

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Great for:

- Atmosphere

- Friendliness

- Bucket list

Chillswim Ullswater End to End - Lake District

A quieter, longer Lakeland epic with proper wilderness feels.

Fast facts:

- Date: 11 Jul 2026

- Location: Ullswater, Lake District

- Distance: 12km (7.5 miles)

- Entry cost: £145

- Water type: Lake

- Tide-assisted: Nope

- Feed stations: 6 optional boat stations offering water, energy drinks & sweets

- Prizes: Medals for all, plus age group winners & overall Top 3 for wetsuit & non-wetsuit

- Kit: Wetsuits optional, tow float compulsory

- Cut-off time: 65 minutes per mile

- Link: catchswim.com/swimming-races/chillswim-ullswater-7-5-miles-end-to-end-race

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Highs:

- Ultra-distance swims (10km+) in the UK are rare - Chillswim are true pros at hosting them

- Point-to-point course keeps views fresh

- Route runs south to north with prevailing winds, meaning the wind should - fingers crossed - be on your side

- Slick organisation & friendly team make it stress-free

- Free parking, clear signage & strong safety support

- Sustainability-focused event with minimal environmental impact

- Great atmosphere without the chaos of mass starts

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Lows:

- Weather can change fast in the Lakes - expect potential chop & cooler temps

- Accommodation near Ullswater books up early - camping on site is easiest

- Remote location, so you’ll likely need a car

- Limited fuelling options - bring your own gels

- As with many UK lakes, blue-green algae risk is monitored but possible

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Great for:

- Natural beauty

- Bucket list

- Racing

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Dart10k - Devon

A beloved downriver classic with the current carrying you home.

Fast facts:

- Dates: 4-5 Jul 2026

- Location: Totnes → Dittisham, Devon

- Distance: 10km

- Entry: TBC

- Water type: River

- Tide-assisted: Yes, fully

- Feed stations: 2 optional floating stations offering water, bananas, flapjacks & sweets

- Prizes: Medals for all, plus age group winners & overall Top 3 for wetsuit & non-wetsuit

- Kit: Wetsuits are optional 

- Cut-off time: None, but swimming faster than 40 minutes per mile is advised 

- Link: catchswim.com/swimming-races/level-water-dart-10k-swim

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Highs:

- Magical route through green Devon countryside

- Friendly, festival-like finish in Dittisham with food & live music

- Supportive community vibe that makes it feel epic & memorable

- Great for first-time long-distance swimmers thanks to the flow assist - but still important to prepare well! 

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Lows:

- The event can at risk of postponement or cancellation due to water quality & being exposed to bad weather 

- Shuttle logistics on the way back to the start can be slow 

- Not one for PB-chasers - more about joy than competition 

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Great for:

- Natural beauty

- Friendliness

- Non-competitive

Dock2Dock 10km - London

An urban marathon swim through London’s Royal Docks - the UK’s most accessible long-distance event.

Fast facts:

- Date: 2026 TBC (2025 event was mid-August)

- Location: Royal Victoria Dock, London

- Distance: 10km (with 15km & 20km options in 2025)

- Entry: TBC - previous year: £110

- Water type: Docklands

- Tide-assisted: Nope

- Feed stations: Water, electrolyte drinks & bananas

- Prizes: Medals for all, plus age group winners for wetsuit & non-wetsuit

- Kit: Wetsuits are optional, tow floats compulsory

- Cut-off time: 5 hours 45 minutes 

- Link: catchswim.com/swimming-races/dock2dock-10km

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Highs:

- Great for first-time long-distance swimmers

- Straight, easy-to-navigate route with big buoys

- Sheltered water - little chop or current

- Easy to reach by public transport

- Added 15km & 20km distances in 2025 - these distances are rare in the UK

- Friendly, helpful marshals & heaps of safety cover

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Lows:

- Urban setting - less inspiring views than wild swims

- Long straight sections can feel repetitive

- Start line can be tricky to find in amongst the ExCel & hotels - arrive early

- No current to help you along, so effort is all yours

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Great for:

- Racing

- Beginner-friendly

- Well-connected

Chillswim Windermere End to End - Lake District

England’s longest lake, end-to-end. Big distance, big kudos.

Fast facts:

- Date: 5 Sep 2026

- Location: Windermere, Cumbria

- Distance: 17.7km (11 miles)

- Entry: £225 (charity entry: £99)

- Water type: Lake

- Tide-assisted: Nope

- Feed stations: Every mile, with water, energy drinks & sweets

- Prizes: Medals for all, plus age group prizes for wetsuit & non-wetsuit categories 

- Kit: Wetsuits are optional, tow floats compulsory

- Cut-off time: approximately 52 minutes per mile

- Link: catchswim.com/swimming-races/chillswim-windermere-11-miles-end-to-end-race

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Highs:

- Iconic UK marathon swim - it doesn’t get much longer than this 

- Bucket-list distance with staggered starts & full safety support

- Perfect season finisher to train up for through the year

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Lows:

- Early start & long day

- Cold, changeable water conditions

- Huge endurance challenge - not one to underestimate

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Great for:

- Bucket list

- Natural beauty

- Off-grid adventure

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Big R Swim - South Wales 

Penarth Pier to Whitmore Bay - an 11.5km coastal challenge with serious grit.

Fast facts:

- Date: Sep 2026 (TBC – 2025 event was September)

- Location: South Wales coast

- Distance: ~11.5km

- Entry: TBC

- Water type: Sea

- Tide-assisted: Partly

- Link: allornothingevents.com/big-r-swim-2026

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Highs:

- Proper sea-swim feel with rolling swell

- Swimming along the coastline & swimming around Sully Island gives great scenery throughout

- Tight-knit event community

- Fun finish line atmosphere at Whitmore Bay

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Lows:

- Weather-dependent - high winds can alter or shorten the route

- Swell & currents add technical challenge

- Requires solid sea-swim experience

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Great for:

- Off-grid adventure

- Friendliness

- Bucket list

Hurly Burly - North Wales

A fast, wild Welsh estuary swim that feels like pure adventure.

Fast facts:

- Date: TBC - was October in 2025

- Location: Mawddach Estuary, Barmouth

- Distance: 10km

- Entry: TBC

- Water type: River/estuary

- Tide-assisted: Yes, fully

- Feed stations: None 

- Prizes: Usually finishers get a nice prize, like a mug or blanket 

- Kit: Wetsuits are optional 

- Link: organiser: levelwater.org/hurlyburly

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Highs:

- Huge tidal assist - you’ll fly downstream

- Dramatic scenery & mountain backdrop

- Beloved for its joyful, community atmosphere

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Lows:

- Cold water & exposure to wind

- Less a race, if that’s what you’re after 

- Remote location can make logistics a bit trickier 

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Great for:

- Off-grid adventure

- Natural beauty

- Bucket list

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Catch Gold will get you there. You’ll build your open water technique & solid fitness with a personalised plan, weekly video lessons tailored to your goal, & direct coaching support from me. There’s no more effective - or cost-effective - way to prepare for a long-distance swim event.

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