SWIMFEST 2024
Enjoy your visit to Brockhole on Windermere with a jam-packed 3 days of activities for you and your supporters to enjoy. With guest speakers, quizzes, music, big prizes, amazing food options, local beers and much more – thereʼs plenty to keep swimmers and spectators entertained throughout the weekend.
START FINISH SWIMMERS ONLY WETLAND AREA WARM UP AREA FERRY BIG SCREEN LIVE COVERAGE MERCH INFORMATION POINT & PACK PICK UP KEY TOILETS FOOD & DRINK BEER TENT WATER REFILL POINT SWIM FEST STAGE CHANGING AREA BAGGAGE DROP AREA CHECK IN MEDAL & FINISHER TEE COLLECTION Grab a creamy Arla Skyr parfait pre-swim and have a go on the Spin-to-Win wheel ARLA SKYR Step inside the Wellness Lodge post-race to get creative with calming music and easy to digest samples. ARLA LACTOFREE WELLNESS LODGE ZOGGS Wetsuit & shop EXHIBITORS Andrea Hall Pre-Loved Pop-Up shop Bobbies Swim Wild Moose Solgar Barracuda Bay Voom Nutrition Brockhole Wild Deer Events Head into the Arla Tipi to customise your own t-shirt and sip on an Arla Cravendale milkshake. ARLA TIPI ARLA PROTEIN ZONE Visit the Protein Zone and try to beat the agility wall before trying an Arla Protein sample.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND
The SwimFest Stage
Located next to the Information Point, youʼll find our popular SwimFest stage. This is where weʼll have loads of fun activities, games, and guest speakers throughout the weekend – suitable for all ages. Thereʼs even something for our amazing Great Swim dogs to get involved in, who are always a big part of our swim weekends.
And when thereʼs a pause in the stage entertainment, feel free to jump up and take some photos with your medal on in front of the backdrop.
Friday
13:00 - Go Wild
Introduction to all the activities taking place throughout the day, including archery, axe throwing and mini golf… Thereʼs a £100 prize up for grabs!
13:30 - Great Swim
Quiz with commentator Gemma Care –win a free swim entry in 2025!
14:00 - Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi
Your chance to ask our official swim medical advisor questions about swimming in the open water, the benefits to our bodies and top training tips
14:30 - Great Swim
Introduction to our Event Village with Gemma Care
15:00 - Waggiest Tail competition Paw-some prizes to be won ��
16:15 - Louise Minchin
Top tips for the open water with Louise Minchin (shown on the big screen)
16:30 - Benefits of cold immersion
Andy Caine, founder of Zero, talks us through the benefits of cold water immersion and human optimisation
17:00 - Arla
Spin it to win it with Daisy Doris May
Saturday
10:00 - Go Wild
10:30 - Waggiest Tail competition Paw-some prizes to be won ��
11:00 - Arla
Spin it to win it with Daisy Doris May
12:00 - Gillian Castle
Gill is the first person with a stoma to swim the English Channel and has an incredibly inspiring story to tell
12:30 - Thao Nunns
Outdoor adventurer and mum, Thao, will share her passion for nature, her love of swimming, and her own personal Arla Great North Swim experience
13:00 - Benefits of cold immersion
Andy Caine, founder of Zero, talks us through the benefits of cold water immersion and human optimisation
13:30 - Great Swim
Introduction to our Event Village with Gemma Care
14:00 - Louise Minchin interview
Louise Minchin is a distinguished British journalist and television presenter, best known for her extensive work with the BBC, is also an accomplished endurance athlete.
14:45 - Louise Minchin
Louiseʼs new book ʻFearlessʼ will be available to buy. Make sure you get your copy signed by the author herself.
15:15 - Quiz with commentator Gemma Care – win a free swim entry in 2025!
15:30 - Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi Swimming as medicine
Sunday
09:00 - Go Wild
09:30 - Great Swim
Introduction to our Event Village with Gemma Care
10:00 - Waggiest Tail competition
Paw-some prizes to be won ��
11:00 - Arla
Spin it to win it with Daisy Doris May
11:30 - Quiz with commentator Gemma Care – win a free swim entry in 2025!
12:30 - Gillian Castle
Gill is the first person with a stoma to swim the English Channel and has an incredibly inspiring story to tell
BROCKHOLE HOUSE CARPARK & STOP
GUEST SPEAKERS
Our guest speakers will be doing a Q&A session on our main stage across the weekend
Louise
Minchin - Distinguished British journalist and television presenter
Best known for her extensive work with the BBC, Louiseʼs career spans over two decades, and has become a familiar face to millions as the co-host of BBC Breakfast, a role she held from 2006 until
Beyond her broadcasting career, she is also an accomplished endurance athlete, with a notable journey in open water swimming. Her passion for swimming was ignited when she took part in the BBC's "Celebrity MasterChef" and later the "Hellespont Swim," one of the toughest open water
Louise has since competed in numerous triathlons and represented Great Britain in her age group at international events. Her multifaceted career and dynamic personality, coupled with her dedication to swimming and sports, make her a prominent and respected figure in British media
She will be joining us this year by taking part in the 2 mile swim and the SwimRun Middle distance and will be promoting her new book ʻFearlessʼ on Saturday
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi - Great Swimʼs Mental Health Medical Advisor
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi is @royalcollegeofgps a Royal College of GPs Lifestyle and Physical Activity Clinical Champion and regular contributor to Channel 4ʼs Stephʼs Packed Lunch, and will be taking on the 5K challenge.
Dr Hussain is also part of an advisory panel for Swim England, and works with them to promote the benefits of swimming for everyone. He has recently been featured in their Swimming as Medicine campaign, sharing his suggestions with other healthcare professionals on how to have physical activity conversations around swimming with patients.
He will continue to share his top tips for staying active, his own swimming experience and the positive impact that swimming (particularly outdoor swimming) has on our physical and mental
Gillian Castle
Gill Castle, 44 of Alnwick, is the first person with a stoma to swim the English Channel and has an incredibly inspiring story that will encourage more people, from all backgrounds and different abilities, to take up swimming.
Gill said: “I'm really looking forward to taking part in the Arla Great North Swim this June. “Last year I became the first person in the world to swim the English Channel solo with a stoma.
“It's been quite a journey from a huge fear of the open water to swimming the English Channel, and I'm looking forward to sharing my journey when I'm talking on the SwimFest stage on Saturday, 8 June, and swimming alongside some of you in the 2-mile swim also.”
Gill will be swimming the 2-mile swim at the Arla Great North Swim on Sunday.
Pre-loved Pop-Up
Donʼt forget to donate your old (but in good condition) outdoor/active wear and weʼll sell the items to the Great Swim visitors for a reduced price. Not only will you get money off a hot drink at Brockholeʼs Gaddem café, youʼll also get to see your old clothing and kit given a new lease of life. All proceeds from the pop-up will go towards the Lake District Foundation. More information can be found in the Event guide > https://greatswim.org/great-north-swim/event-guide
Big Screen
Throughout the weekend we will have the big screen on the green, next to the event village, showing a live stream of the swimmers entering and exiting the water. The waterʼs edge is for swimmers only, so pull up a picnic rug, grab some snacks and enjoy the real-time swim show.
Arla Tipi
Our title sponsors, Arla, will have a huge tipi on the green near the event village for you to visit across the 3 days. There will be plenty of fun to get involved in, as well as a Tipi DJ, plust plenty of sampling of delicious Arla Skyr, Arla Protein, Arla Cravendale and Arla Lactofree products.
Hungry?
Throughout the weekend thereʼs a great selection of local food and drink vendors located around Brockhole on Windermere, whether itʼs a woodfired pizza youʼre after, or a pint of something cold and refreshing… Weʼve got you covered.
Brockhole Beer Tent
It does exactly what it says on the tin. Local beers or celebratory prosecco – come and celebrate with us.
Thereʼll also be a wide range of independent local food producers on site throughout the weekend. Weʼre excited to welcome a selection of fantastic food stalls this year, including: Earthworm Kitchen, Yardies, and Fiery Mammaʼs Pizza. The beer tent will be back, in a new location near the big screen, serving a selection of local Lakes beers - perfect for a post-swim celebration!
Activities at Brockhole
If youʼre looking to unleash your inner Viking, or youʼre keen to take on the Tiki mini golf, or maybe you fancy letting your arrows fly like Robin Hood… Youʼre in the right place!
The team at Go Wild will be there throughout the whole weekend to keep you entertained by offering swimmers and spectators a selection of fantastic activity packages.
Places are limited so we recommend purchasing online ahead of event weekend to secure your spot.
Axe Throwing
Unleash your inner lumberjack, land bullseyes and sling axes on our picturesque 8 lane lakeside range. For £10 per person, youʼll get some practice time, followed by a few games and challenges such as ʻclosest to bullseyeʼ and our ʻ6-axe points tournamentʼ.
On all three days the highest scorer will win a £100 gift voucher for any of the Go Wild venues in the UK.
Tiki golf activity
Take on the 9 hole Tiki Mini Golf Course and conquer holes like The wave, Tiki Drums and Aloha. The activity is £5pp and is suitable for all ages.
Archery
Take your bow, pull back and let your arrows soar towards the gold. For £10 per person youʼll get plenty of practice, followed by point scoring games and challenges.
Book your activity and your 30 minute slot on the hour, every hour.
Gift shop
Buy souvenirs and gifts from our beautiful shop in Brockhole House.
In addition to the activities listed above, Brockhole also has a fantastic adventure playground for children to enjoy, gardens to explore and the option of taking on the Treetop Treks and Treetop Nets.
RECOVERY ZONE
Powered by ZERO Human Optimisation
ZERO Human Optimisation will be providing the Arla Great North Swim participants with the Ice Bath Recovery Zone. The physiological benefits of cold immersion post endurance events have been backed heavily by research and used by athletes for decades. Reducing inflammation, flushing toxins, lower muscle soreness and fatigue, improving circulatory health to name a few.
Andy
Caine – Founder of Zero, a human optimisation system to connect your mind, body and purpose
Andy Caine has spent all of his life in sport and to an elite level. Having competed at World Championship level as an endurance athlete and 28 minute 10km specialist . Reaching senior positions at Nike, Puma & Foot Locker including a period of elite athlete management working with the world's very best.
Life events placed Andy in a challenging position which questioned his existence as a man. He took this opportunity to answer the voice from within and embark on a journey of self discovery into masculinity, mind, body & soul connection. And he walked ... from John O'Groats to Lands End, this epic quest gave birth to the direction to take, to help other men in similar positions to find their why...but first we must return to Zero, as he did and rebuild.
Andy now runs a successful business helping corporate teams and individuals to lead the best lives they can. Qualified in Mindfulness, Meditation, Breathwork, Cold Immersion and Menʼs space leadership.
Andy will be on the SwimFest stage throughout the weekend.