The Wild Swimming Festival JULY 2025

🗓️ Saturday 19^th – Sunday 20^th July 2025

Swanage is once again hosting The Wild Swimming Festival, with swimmers from across the UK coming to take part.

The festival offers participants a range of both fun and competitive swims, including the Jurassic Swim Challenge, along with a whole host of entertainment at its hub in Prince Albert Gardens.

There’ll be something to suit every type of sea swimmer, from beginner to experienced – take part in a racing challenge or join a small group, guided swim at a range of fantastic locations in Swanage Bay and along the nearby Jurassic Coast.

The Wild Swimming Festival includes:

Swimming races
Guided swims & hike-and-swims
Live music
Local food & drink
Talks from experts in water safety (free when booked with a challenge or guided swim)

Saturday 19^th July

4km Jurassic Swim Challenge

Course: Monkey Beach – Town Quay – Banjo Pier – Sheps Hollow and back
Start time: 12.30pm
Tickets: £74

2km Jurassic Swim Challenge

Course: Monkey Beach – Town Quay – Banjo Pier – Burlington Chine and back
Start time: 1pm
Tickets: £64

Saturday 19^th & Sunday 20^th July

Take part in a guided swim or walk-and-swim combination at a range of iconic Jurassic Coast locations across the weekend.

All guided swims are hosted by open-water coaches and lifeguards, with various time slots available on both Saturday and Sunday.

A minimum age of 12 applies.

Swanage Bay Snorkel

New for 2025, the Swanage Bay Snorkel is a guided swim where you can discover what lies beneath the waters in Swanage

Tickets: £49

Swanage Piers Explorer

Enjoy views above & below the water around Swanage’s old and new piers on this guided swim.

Tickets: £44

Durlston Bay Explorer

Guided hike and swim from the festival hub at Prince Albert Gardens to a secret swimming spot within Durlston Bay.

Tickets: £40

Old Harry Rocks Explorer

Enjoy a powerboat trip from Swanage Bay across to Old Harry Rocks to explore the famous chalk stacks.

A wetsuit and footwear are essential for this swim.

Tickets: £74

Dancing Ledge Explorer

Take a boat trip to Dancing Ledge and explore its tidal pool.

Tickets: £74

Introduction to Wild Swimming

If you’ve never been wild swimming but always wanted to try, this is the course for you.

Aimed at new and nervous swimmers, the session is led by a Swim Wild, Breathe Free instructor and covers a range of confidence-boosting tips such as floating practice.

Tickets: £11

Wood-Fired Seafront Sauna

Relax in a seafront sauna before taking to the water in this wild swimming favourite experience.

Tickets: £14

Free Talks & Activities

The Wild Swimming Festival offers some free activities (when booked with a challenge/guided swim) across the weekend, too, from a lifeguarded sunrise dip to informative talks on tides and how to stay safe in the water.