Swim the Lakes

I bought my last wetsuit here in person and it’s been fantastic. I also go on their swim days which never disappoint. Recently though, I have also been buying my small swimming items from their online shop. The products always do what they say they’ll do, the prices are good and customer service and delivery are really good.

My husband and I did the Derwentwater Island Hop guided swim this weekend. We are building our open water swimming experience and this was a stern challenge but we had a great time. The swim guides were amazing - very experienced swimmers, who judged the pace of the swim and managed the different swim speeds in the group really well. They were also very kind and looked after everyone. Jelly babies (served via oar in the water), and hot chocolate and large slabs of cake were served on-shore at the end of the swim. The event guidance/emails are really useful. Please heed their notice about swimming experience and the kit needed to complete the swim. In June the water temperature was still cool so the neoprene socks and hat were needed. We have already booked another guided swim with Swim the Lakes. Highly recommended.

Great service from Terri at the Swim The Lakes, I used the wetsuit fitting service advertised, Terri took the time to find the best fitting suit and showed me the best way to get in & out even providing gloves to protect the suit, NO upselling and I received a free swim cap with my purchase, will be back next time I’m lucky enough to be in such a great location

Truly fantastic experience! We were given a voucher for my husband's 50th by some friends and chose the "Down the River without a paddle" experience. It was SO much fun. The team were so knowledgable and i felt so safe in their capable hands. We swam down the river and into Lake Windermere, then back again - against quite a strong current. (My husband and i are fit and competent swimmers - yet the current was a challenge! But being under the watch of the Swim The Lakes team, we felt totally safe at all times). It was so special, swimming amongst the ducks and ducklings and just being so close to nature. The hot chocolate & cake afterwards were a delicious reward for our hour long swim! I highly recommend this company and their lovely staff!

This may be the best and healthiest method of seeing the Lake District - Swimming!

I found Swim the Lakes in Ambleside and was intrigued by the images of groups of swimmers in well known, and some no so well-known lakes and tarns. I booked on their introductory session and also some additional swims in the larger lakes. Their events are are really well run with clear safety guidelines and procedures, and emphasis on enjoyment, regardless of your ability. The tours finish with a debrief on the shore, hot chocolate, homemade cake and biscuits. What's not to love?

Its a privilege to see the Lake District from the perspective of an open water swimmer. Exploring islands and inlets than are not accessible by hiking or running. Do yourself a favor on your next visit to the Lake District, book a session with Swim The Lakes.

Pete and the team that run the shop in Ambleside are so welcoming warm and polite, they gave me good advice and welcomed me to join them on one of their wild swimming days next year. I'm very much looking forward to swimming with them in 2024. It's just a shame I waited until the end of the year to get into swimming outdoors but I needed the extra pool practice anyway. I love the shop and staff and if you are into swimming outdoors these guys are very clued up and ready to take you on an adventure. Happy Swimming 🏊‍♀

Gold standard experience , if anyone is interested in or just starting out wild swimming this is the only place to go.
Service and care was superb , I was looking for a new wetsuit to take me through the winter months and learned more about what I needed and what would suit me than I ever could online and made a really great purchase I am so happy with.
What I really enjoyed and appreciated was the non-judgmental and personal approach. It is often the case when you visit places looking to take on a new fitness or self care adventure that you are made to feel like your body is not right for it , your too fat , to old , not capable. But as a podgy person with health issues and physical difficulties I left the store feeling confident , more informed and extremely positive about all my future winter swims. A fabulous , inclusive and warm experience. Thank you so much !

Outstandingly helpful staff and probably the best goggles I’ve ever bought. Thank you! 🏊‍♂

Just wanted to commend this shop on their service today. Had lost the belt from the Puffin float I'd bought online some years ago and the kind lady went to some trouble to find me an alternative ( while insisting it was no trouble!) So helpful.

Extremely helpful and knowledgeable staff (which we needed as we are newbies to lake swimming), and lots of good stuff in the shop at reasonable prices. Thank you!

Great customer service, really polite and helpful, thank you :-)

We swam the poets punt this morning. Super service, so friendly and beautiful scenery. They even had cake and hot chocolate for us at the end. Thanks for a lovely experience.

Fantastic service. Knowledgable and very helpful. Will accept returns with ease if items aren’t suitable that have been bought online and advise alternatives

Brilliant service, been looking to get a decent wetsuit for ages after numerous cheap and badly fitting ones, went up with the aim of trying one for me and buying one for the Mrs who has started doing triathlons.

I have been open water swimming a while but usually in a cheap wetsuit or just trunks. Pete -the co-owner-started off by asking what she wanted it for stroke type and then explaining the various suits and prices covering what the differences were and what you paid extra for. Pete then very patiently explained how to get the suit on and off again and provided the Marigolds to assist! She then tried 3 suits on in ascending order of price, the middle suit -Aqua Sphere- was a perfect fit, whilst the Mrs was otherwise engaged I asked for a suit for me. Sadly they had none in my massive size.

The Mrs duly settled on the second suit and Pete managed to locate a suit for me which was a perfect fit, just in time for the Mrs to come in as she had to move the car! By which point I was having one too!

Two very satisfied customers and the service was exceptional as was the advice on where to swim. Been out twice in a week and very pleased with the kit.

The owners couldn't be more helpful. I am now a very proud owner of an open water wet suit. Cant wait fir my first swim. I recommend this lovely shop to all who want encouragement and expert advise.

Super helpful for newbie sea swimmers. Terry went well above and beyond with advice and tips. Very friendly. Highly recommended!

We've bought a few thermals recently from Swim the Lakes (gloves, socks etc) and they are all great. Really helpful & personal customer service and they clearly know what they're talking about. Very pleased!

My husband wanted a wetsuit and I wanted , Teri was so helpful and her knowledge was excellent came away with a lot more great place would highly recommend this place if your looking for swim stuff in Ambleside 😊

Awesome shops with awesome staff!!

I was in the Lakes for the Chillswim Coniston event and stupidly left my wetsuit down South. Swim the Lakes were able to provide me the perfect suit on the morning of the race and I couldn't be grateful enough. Amazing service and I'd definitely recommend these guys.

Thanks again StL!

Had a wonderful fitting at Swim The Lakes with Therry , I love my new wetsuit 😊. It’s the first time I have purchased one , and the service was exceptional. Thank you so much.