open water swimming

Open Water Swimming

Open Water Swimming

Box End Park is the perfect training venue for open water swimming and off road running and cycling.

  • Our lakes are spring fed, making the water incredibly clean and safe for swimmers
  • Our site is fully serviced with free, secure car parking, changing rooms, lockers and warm showers
  • There is a first aid trained safety observer present during all swimming sessions
  • We have a full range of rental wetsuits available for hire priced at £5 (these can be hired from reception on arrival)

Swimming Pricing

View Swimming Pricing Here

If it is your first time swimming at Box End Park this year you must read and complete a registration & disclaimer form.

The best value way to train at Box End Park is to become a season member. This gives unlimited access to all swim sessions and allows you to develop a cheap and consistent training plan. The cost is £99 for the season, giving a full season of swimming, free car parking and full access to the changing facilities and 5k running and cycling course.

Alternatively you can train as a guest for a charge of £5 per day pass (This should be paid to a member of staff at reception on arrival).

Download a registration form

Independent Swimming Coaches

If you are new to open water swimming, or looking to improve your technique, then we can recommend some great independent coaches who can help you with all elements of your swimming:

We take great pride in our water quality and have it regularly tested to ensure it exceeds the standards recommended for bathing water. We also undergo a programme of lake dying and cutting to ensure weed is kept to a minimum.

Open Water Swimming Rules

  • You must be capable of completing an 800 metre continuous swim
  • You must not have any medical condition (such as heart disease, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes) which may impact my ability to safely partake in open water swimming. If you are unsure, please seek the advice of a GP
  • You must sign in at the Box End Park reception before each swim and ensure you understand the session timings and which lake to use
  • You must wear a brightly coloured swim hat at all times and wear a wetsuit if the water temperature is below 14oC
  • You must enter and exit the water at the designated points
  • In the event you get into difficulty during the swim session, you must roll on to your back and signal for rescue by raising an arm in the air. Alternatively use the air-horns attached to the life buoys around the lake to signal for help
  • A safety observer will be present during all swim sessions, however Box End Park will not provide full lifeguard cover. Because of this you must not swim alone. You must attend the lake with a buddy and stay with them during the session. Alternatively you must swim within a 15m distance of another swimmer during the session. In the event of seeing another swimmer getting into difficulty, you must raise the alarm using the methods above
  • In the event of a thunderstorm, failing light, fog or high winds the safety observer may decide to end a session. If you are asked to exit the lake then please do so immediately
  • You must acknowledge that the lake is a natural environment. Lake banks may be slippery, there may be sharp stones underfoot. There are various ramps, buoys and ropes within the water which must be avoided. If you do not feel comfortable with these hazards then you should not swim in this open water environment

Multisport Races

In addition to swim training, Box End Park hosts a full calendar of multisports events.

There is the chance to get involved in a range of races, from dog triathlons to long distance swim events.

If you fancy giving racing a go, or want a great training session, then why not enter one of the Thursday Evening races. Just £15 and you can race in an Aquathlon or Triathlon!

Click here for an Evening Triathlon entry form


Click here for a full list of events run at Box End Park



Need kit?

We work with Tri-Sports shop based in Letchworth who have a pop up store at Box End Park during swim sessions at 07:00 - 09:00 at the end of each month. Dates this year are:

  • Sat 27th April (Zone 3 Demo day)
  • Sat 25th May
  • Sat 29th June
  • Sunday 28th July
  • Sat 31st August

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