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The Big Welsh Swim 2025

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Saturday 5th July 2025

Entries Open
Monday 9th September 2024 at 12:00
Entries Close
Sunday 29th June 2025 at 17:00
Entries So Far
165 Participants
Entry Fees
500m (Junior 8-15)   £31.50   
500m   £37.00   
Mid way: 1.3km (Junior 8-15)   £61.00   
Mid Way: 1.3km   £65.00   
One Way: 3km Early Wave   £73.50   
One Way: 3km   £73.50   
Two Way: 6km   £80.00   
Three Way: 9km   £93.50   
Contact
Event Organiser - Chloe Rafferty
Phone
07791685269

To enter you must first Log In or Register your Details with SiEntries.

 Please only enter this event once you have read the full event information and Participant Declaration on the event website page, Event Rules and our terms and conditions and are happy to agree to them.

The Big Welsh Swim

Catch the narrow gauge train to the end of Llyn Padarn to start your swim for a truly unique experience! With the spectacular backdrop of the Snowdon mountain range, the historic Dolbadarn Castle and Welsh slate quarries you can choose to swim the length of the lake, either once, twice or three times! We have a mid length and 500m option too!

The Big Welsh Swim Event Schedule:

The Course

The BIG Welsh Swim will take place in Llyn Padarn, Padarn Country Park, Llanberis, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. The swim route will involve lengths of the lake (each length is 3km) with a choice of 5 different distances to choose from. Wetsuit and non-wetsuit places are available! The lake is surrounded by some of Snowdonia’s most stunning scenery including beautiful woodland, a historic castle, the old slate quarries that tower above the valley and the small narrow gauge railway that we’ll use to transport you to the end of the lake!

Location: Gilfach Ddu station, Llyn Padarn Railway, Llanberis, North Wales. LL55 4TY.

Distances:

  • 500m – an out and back swim (you will not take the train)
  • 1.3km – almost half the length of the lake
  • 3km – 1 length of the lake
  • 6km – 2 lengths of the lake (you will not take the train)
  • 9km – 3 lengths of the lake

Aid stations: 3 stations over each length of the lake: both ends and half way point.

Cut off time: 4.5 hours from start time for each distance. There is a 3 hour cut off to begin length 3 of the 9km swimThe race organisers and appointed staff can retire a participant at any time if they judge them not capable of finishing due to fatigue or poor physical condition. You will be prevented from starting your final length if it is deemed you will not complete it by the cut off time.

Entries

You must be over 18 years of age on the day of the event to enter. Under 18 participants will need parental consent to take part in any swim. Age 8 and above can complete the 500m or 1.3km swim if accompanied in the water by a fee paying adult who will take complete responsibility for them. There is a limit of one child per adult. See Entering an Under 18 into an Event.

Entry numbers are strictly limited!

  • 500m Junior (age 8 - 15) (no train ride included)
  • 500m (no train ride included)
  • 1.3km Junior (age 8 - 15)
  • 1.3km
  • 3km Early Wave* (Subject to availability)
  • 3km (10am train)
  • 6km (no train ride included)
  • 9km

*The 3km Early Wave is an option to book your seat on the first train along with the 9km swimmers. You will start your swim approx 1 hour earlier than the later 3km wave – this is entirely a personal choice and has no other implication. Seats are strictly subject to availability.

Entry fee includes:

  • Full water safety cover
  • Train ticket (excluding 500m & 6km entries)
  • Event swim hat
  • Event timing
  • Fuel and hydration during event
  • Eco friendly, hand made slate medal
  • Event photography
  • Prize for winners in each distance category 

Waiting list

There is a waiting list on the entry system but this does not effect the terms and conditions of your entry. Please read our terms and conditions carefully before entering.

You can only join the waiting list for one distance option. If you join the waiting list please do not email us asking about the likelihood of you getting a place – we do not know! We will contact you if one becomes available and you must accept it within 24 hours or we will offer it to the next person on the list and delete your entry.

Event Rules & Entry Terms & Conditions 

Please read the Event Rules and Participant Declaration which can be found below, and terms and conditions of entry throughly before signing up. You can read them in full here.  Please be aware that we offer a no refunds and no deferral policy. Please see Terms and Condition clauses 5 and 6 regarding optional Refund Protection insurance and the options you have for transferring your entry. Please only enter this event if you are happy with these terms. 

Please see the website for full details about the event including info about non-wetsuit entries.

View the Event Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.

View the Event Cancellation / Refund Policy.

This event offers the option to purchase XCover, so that participants may be able to get a refund if they are unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.


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Event Location
Gilfach Ddu Station, Llyn Padarn Railway, Llanberis, LL55 4TY