I’ve been doing this challenge for about a year and a half now and for the whole time my mum, Deb, has been saying she’d love to come and swim with me – and yesterday she finally did. We met in Kendal and sat in the car looking at the maps for a little while. Outside … More #67: Beacon Tarn

Last night Kat and Chris came up from London so we’re all staying at the Youth Hostel in Grasmere for the weekend. This morning we got out the maps and had a think and decide on a route from Brotherswater that would take in Hayeswater and Angle Tarn. We parked at Cow Bridge car park … More #65 & #66: Hayeswater & Angle Tarn

The weather forecast for today was for sunny and warm so I decided to take the opportunity to do a bigger swim. The drive over was lovely, sunny and warm with beautiful, hazy views over the fells. We stopped on the way to buy a new tow-float as mine has started to go down a … More #64: Crummock Water

Last night I danced until 2.15. I went to bed about 3am and got up at about 8.00. I’ve got a bit of a cold. It was grey and rainy and windy and generally miserable. To be honest I was not really feeling like I wanted to go for a swim. More like curl up … More #63: Bowscale Tarn

I’m staying in Langdale tonight, so I got my maps out this morning and had a look at the options in this area. I chose Red Tarn on the side of Pike of Blisco and set off, the sun shining, for Wrynose Pass. It was a long drive from home but totally worth it. There … More #62: Red Tarn

On Friday Charley and I headed down to Green Hows Tarn near Greystoke. It was a pretty long drive to get down there and the rain seemed to be steadily settling in. I’d never been there before so wasn’t sure what to expect. There is a track marked on the map from the road, but … More #61: Green Hows Tarn

After two boring but sleep-deprived days at work it felt great yesterday to be able to throw myself into a good long swim. I left work and drove down the M6, only to find a solid mass of traffic at my junction. From there on the fact that it was the Friday of a bank … More #60: Ullswater

17/8/16 Well, what a fantastic day! Glorious sunshine and one of my favourite swims so far. Laura, Angela, Katy and I drove over to Loweswater, enjoying the stunning views over the fells in the hot, bright sun. We drove up Newlands Valley and down along the side of Crummock Water, deep blue water sparkling and … More #59: Loweswater

After a very inactive two days at work I was very keen to get a swim in yesterday. However, when I got to Glenridding, with the intention of going up to do Red Tarn, I realised that I’d forgotten my tow float. Red Tarn is high and cold and fairly big. I really didn’t want … More #57 & #58: Littlewater Tarn and Rough Hill Tarn

Another fantastic day today. I was a bit nervous about doing Wastwater because it’s a big one and I’m rather out of practice at the moment. But I decided to go for it and I’m so glad I did. I met Torben at the youth hostel which is right on the shore of the lake. … More #56: Wastwater