Sign up for Great North Swim

12:50pm Sunday 17th August 2008

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THE watery equivalent of the Great North Run gets under way next month when up to 2000 people swamp England's longest lake for the first ever Great North Swim.

Swimmers of all abilities have signed up to do a mile in Lake Windermere on September 13 infront of the Channel 4 TV cameras and with just a month to go all places have gone in the first mass participation open water swim ever in the UK.

If you miss out this time there’s no need to wait until next year as a well-established holiday company specialises in providing three-day swimming holidays throughout the Lake District during summer.

SwimTrek, the world’s first open water swimming operator, organises unique “Lakes Weekenders” from June to September focusing on the shallower lakes where temperatures average out at a pleasant 14C to 18C.

The weekends start on Friday with arrival at your accommodation the Glenthorne Country Guesthouse on the outskirts of Grasmere; to meet up with your party of fellow swimmers.

Over the next two days you’ll see the Lakes and mountains like few visitors ever do by wading into the mirrory waters of Buttermere, Crummock Water and Grasmere for a swim with a difference. What’s more the weekend involves a fell walk to the natural hill-top infinity pool overlooking Grasmere - Easdale Tarn; a mere cinch to swim compared to Windermere at just 500 metres across.

All the swims vary in length of between one km and three-and-a-half km and are fully supervised with swimming guides and safety canoes. The package costs £245pp and includes accommodation at the Glenthorne Country House.

All you need to bring are two swimming costumes, two goggles, towel, a day pack, waterproof jacket, woolly hat, aqua shoes, sweater and fleece, sun hat and suncream, walking boots and waterproof trousers. Wetsuits are available on request.

Call SwimTrek on 0208 696 6220, email info@swimtrek.com or go to www.swimtrek.com/trips-and-events/short-escapes/the-lakes-weekender Alternatively if open-air swimming’s not your thing head for the luxury aquamarine heated swimming pool at the stylish Hillthwaite House Hotel in Windermere just 1km from the lake of the same name, see www.hillthwaite.com/home.aspx

For a 20-metre swimming pool on the shores of the famous Windermere, try the £8.25M revamped Old England Hotel and Spa in Bowness, which was named best in Cumbria in 2008. For details: www.macdonald-hotels.co.uk/oldengland