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Swimrun Coniston

Gritty course

  • 20th September 2026
  • Lake District, UK
ENTER TODAY PAIRS | SOLO

21 km

Total Distance

18km / 6 runs

run Distance

3km / 5 swims

Swim Distance

14%

Swim Percentage

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The Lake District is one of the most beautiful locations for a swimrun event, with forest trails, glacial ribbon lakes, and rugged fell mountains. Our Gritty course swimrun event will take you through Windermere, Rydal Water and Grasmere. The course follows forestry tracks, trails and paths along valleys and over fells in the midst of some stunning and varied Lakeland scenery.

Race Details

Race Details

Total race distance: 21 km | Ascent: 500m
6 x run sections | 5 x swim sections
Run total: 18 km | Longest run: 6.57km
Swim: 3 km | Longest swim: 920m

Included in the entry

Included in the entry

The Coniston Gritty course is raced in pairs or solo.

Gritty Course Solo Entry

  • Door Buster: £130 (full)
  • Early Bird: £150 (ends 31 Dec 2025)
  • Standard: £170 (ends 30 Aug 2026)
  • Last Minute: £190 (ends 17 Sep 2026)

Gritty Course Team Entry
(per team of two persons)

  • Door Buster: £250 (full)
  • Early Bird: £290 (ends 31 Dec 2025)
  • Standard: £330 (ends 30 Aug 2026)
  • Last Minute: £370 (ends 17 Sep 2026)

The entry fee includes the following:

  • Swim cap
  • Finisher’s medal
  • Race timing
  • Race nutrition and hydration
  • Free event photography
  • Coaches to the start
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The Course

The Course

  • Estimated completion time: 2.5-4 hours
  • Terrain: Trails, sections of technical running; steps; steep slopes
  • Swimming: Rocky beach entries and exits
  • Difficulty: Medium. You need a high level of adventure.

Map – Gritty course

Distances and timings currently being updated.

Start: Braithwaite Hall. 10.55 hrsRun (m)Swim (m)Cumulative (km)Cut Offs
(entries)
Run 1 to Lilies of the Valley2,6002.6
Swim 1 to Bass How9203.514:30
Run 2 to High Wray Bay3,5507.1
Swim 2 to Epley Point2307.315:30
Run 3 to Fisherty How1,5208.8
CP1 – 7.8 km from start 15:45
Swim 3 to Brock Crag7009.515:50
Run 4 to Steps End6,57016.1
CP2 – 15.3 km from start17:25
Swim 4 to Jobson Close41016.517:35
Run 5 to Baneriggs2,12018.6
Swim 5 to Red Bank78019.418:05
Run 6 to Finish: Tweedies1,65021.118:45

The course will be fully marked. Swim transitions and checkpoints will be staffed by our incredible volunteers. We support local charities and groups for every volunteer that supports us on the event. You do not need a map on the route when competing, unless you wish to carry one. We do advise all athletes to be familiar with the route before competing.

Mandatory Kit

Mandatory Kit

All athletes, whether entering as a team or solo, MUST have the following:

  • Suitable footwear*
  • A wetsuit* suitable for temperatures of 10 degrees C
  • A whistle
  • A reusable cup or flask – must be genuinely reusable, ie no paper cups

Solo athletes MUST have the following:

  • An inflated and brightly coloured tow float.

Athletes can, if they wish, use paddles, pull buoys and fins (no longer than 15cm, measured from the toe), and teams may also use tow ropes. These items are not mandatory.

* Wetsuit and trainers – clean and dry! Our continued use of pristine lakes on our courses depends on our commitment to biosecurity. You must present your wetsuit and trainers for the biosecurity check. If they are not clean – this includes the soles of your shoes and means no dirt – and dry, you will have to wash and dry them before you can register.

Nutrition / Aid Stations

Nutrition / Aid Stations

There are two checkpoints on the Coniston Gritty course. The locations of these checkpoints are viewable on the course map above.

There will be a range of nutrition products at checkpoints, including isoactive electrolyte drinks and energy bars. The following event nutrition plan will be updated nearer to the event date.

Start: Braithwaite Hall. 10:55 hrs
Hydration (water).

Checkpoint S1/F4: Wray Castle | 7.7km from start | Cut Off: 15:40 hrs
Hydration (water and electrolyte) | Oranges | Salted Potatoes | Jaffa cakes | Sweets | Energy bars

Checkpoint S2/F5: Pelter Bridge car park | 15.4km from start | Cut Off: 17:25 hrs
Hydration (water and electrolyte) | Bananas | Salted Crisps | Jaffa cakes | Sweets | Energy bars | Hot Mint Tea

Finish: Tweedies Bar & Lodge | 21.5km from start | Cut Off: 18:45 hrs
Hydration (water and electrolyte) | Bananas | Sweets | Energy bars (additional hot food available for purchase in Tweedies Bar).

Logistics

Logistics

The logistics for this event will be updated and all athletes will be sent emails when major updates are confirmed. Please read below as to what is presently in place.

Pre event day

Online and at start locationSafety briefing – all athletes will be sent an email with all the event information for race day. Expect two emails in the lead up to the event weekend.
17:00-19:30Registration, kit inspection and bag drop opens at Race HQ – in The Lodge Restaurant, a function room in the main hotel at Tweedies Bar & Lodge, Grasmere. If you cannot make this time slot then please let us know as we can be around later in the evening with prior notice. Alternatively, there is a registration option on Sunday morning – see below. See below for what you need to bring to Registration.

Sunday 20th September (timings to be confirmed)

07:30 – 08.45If you cannot make registration on Saturday evening, then this time slot might help. Registration, kit inspection and bag drop opens at Race HQ, Tweedies Bar & Lodge (Slot 2), Grasmere. Then 5-minute walk to board coaches at Stock Lane car park. Please try and make Saturday evening registration above if you can.
09:05Start to board coaches at Stock Lane car park.
09:30Coach departs from Stock Lane car park, Grasmere to the start location at Far Sawrey.
09:55Coach pick up from Rothay Rd Parking, Ambleside (5 minute walk from Ambleside Rugby Club). You must notify us before the day if you would like to be picked up from here otherwise the coach might drive straight by and on to the start location.
10:25Coach arrives at Braithwaite Hall – the start location. Toilets, water, athlete count and final briefing.
10:55Gritty course Race Start.
13:20First teams expected at finish at Tweedies Bar & Lodge, Grasmere.
14:15(approx)* Presentations at Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere.

* Presentations for each category will occur 10 minutes after the third placed team crosses the finish line in that category.

Registration, kit inspection and Photo ID check will take place in The Lodge Restaurant, a function room in the main hotel at Tweedies Bar & Lodge, Grasmere (map).

  1. Registration Slot 1 – Saturday 20th between 17:00 and 19:30.
  2. Registration Slot 2 – Sunday 21st between 08:00 and 09:15. Please try and make Slot 1 above if you can.

You will need to register with your partner if in a team and bring the following:

  • Photo identification
  • All your mandatory kit (see above section for mandatory kit)

If you do not bring these items with you, you will not be allowed to begin the race.

You will be issued with your race vests and swim caps during registration.

You must read through your race briefing prior to the event weekend to ensure you are aware of all vital information about the course and race logistics.

Athletes can leave a small (max 30L) bag at the registration venue before boarding the coaches on race day, or leave their bag in the Swimrun Coniston van at race start. This bag will be taken to the finish line for you. Make sure you put a tag on your bag with your vest number clearly marked. Tags will be handed out. We recommend a change of clothes, shoes, money and a towel so that you can join us at he post-race social.

NOTE: There will be event staff at the finish area but bags will not be attended to at all times so you do leave them at your own risk.

The event is based in Grasmere. The nearest town is Ambleside. Buses go between Ambleside and Grasmere but please do check the Sunday timetable for the day before event day.

Athletes can board the complementary coaches that we have organised for you to get to the race start. The coaches are not mandatory; if you wish to get to the start under your own steam then that is fine. However, you cannot park at Braithwaite Hall and there is limited parking in the surrounding area.

NOTE: You will need to board the coaches changed and ready to race. There are no changing facilities at the race start.

Please be seated on the coach five minutes before the departure time to avoid missing the transfer. There are no alternative arrangements in place to take you to the race start if you miss the coach.

09:30 Coach leaves Stock Lane car park, Grasmere.

09:50 Coach leaves Rothay Rd Parking, Ambleside.

The race finishes on the grounds of Tweedies Bar & Lodge. Race finishers will receive an engraved slate medal and be able to collect their drop bags and change. You will be asked to hand back your bib. Your finisher’s t-shirt will be available for you at this point, unless you opted to plant a tree instead of a T.

There will be a biosecurity wash facility to rinse your wetsuit and shoes after changing. Please use this facility to help us avoid the spread of invasive species to our lakes and rivers.

There will be some energy bars, crisps, bananas, and water at the finish line for athletes. Hot food available for purchase in Tweedies Bar.

The post-race social will take place in Tweedies Bar & Lodge. All athletes, volunteers, safety teams and supporters are invited to join us there for the evening.

Prize Giving will take place 15 minutes after the last podium-placed team has completed the event.

If you plan to leave a car at the finish, please park in one of Grasmere’s pay and display car parks to avoid filling the Dale Lodge Hotel (Tweedies Bar) car park.

The #555 or #559 bus departs Grasmere for Ambleside and Windermere, although please check timings as the Sunday service is reduced.

The race registration, briefing, race finish and race HQ are all based in in Grasmere. We suggest that competitors book accommodation either in Grasmere or in nearby Ambleside. September is still a busy time in the Lake District so accommodation will be in demand. We do advise you to book early to avoid disappointment.

Safety Measures

Safety Measures

It is important that all athletes appreciate that safety first begins with yourself, your team, and each other. Take care of each other – it is a long, tough course.

All athletes must help one another in an emergency, whether this is on the Full course, Gritty course or Sprint course, team or solo. Communicate with event staff when help is needed as early communication is important.

We have a robust safety plan in place, with expert water safety and medical teams on the course. We also have cut offs in place at swim entries and at checkpoints for further safety measures. The compulsory race briefing will go through all safety measures in more detail.

We use cut off times to make sure that everyone completes the race safely and before dark. Cut offs are also critical for our safety plan for the positions and movements of boats and the medical team. Consequently, cut off times will be strictly enforced. If you miss a cut off, even by one minute, and continue to race, you will be disqualified from this and all future events we operate.

Cut off times are enforced at swim entries and at checkpoints. Checkpoint cut off times are listed above in both the Route Card and Nutrition sections.

Our water safety plans are delivered by a professional organisation who specialise in the water safety of mass participation events across the UK and worldwide. Communicate with the teams if you need help or support at anytime in the water. Our safety briefing will go through what to do when in difficulty.

The water safety team will move to different sections of the course when swims open and close for athletes. If you don’t make a swim entry on time and miss the cut off, then you will not be allowed to enter the water as the water safety team will be moving on to a different part of the course.

Our medical and rescue plans are delivered by a professional organisation, based in the Lake District, who provide bespoke safety solutions for outdoor sports events.

Our medical teams will be positioned strategically around the course and move according to the timings of the athletes. A medical team will be stationed at the finish point throughout the time athletes cross the line.

Final Checklists

Final Checklists

  • Enter your race
  • Book accommodation
  • Check you have all the mandatory kit
  • Read the Event Rules and Terms and Conditions
  • Train appropriately for your race
  • Attend the compulsory Race Briefing
  • Have fun on your race
  • Enjoy the post race social

Start Lists

Start Lists

Coming soon…