And So the Adventure Begins...
If you fancy a REAL adventure this summer then why not join us on a swim hiking tour?
'Swim hiking', also known as swim trekking, swim walking, cross country swimming and more, is quite simple:
Walk, swim, repeat!
Routes can be easy walks of short distances or they can be all day adventures taking in a variety of scenery and challenging terrain and also swims.
What clothes and kit will I need?
This is one of the most common questions we get because the concept is still quite new! Much will depend on the route that to choose because the terrain of the hikes will dictate what equipment and clothes you should take and of course the Great British weather has a big part to play.
Shoes
Typically you'd be looking at normal country walking shoes, we would advise lighter weight boots or trainers as opposed to heavy hiking boots. We would actually recommend the trainers option because you could even swim in them if needed - sometimes the entry points can be rocky.
Clothes, warm weather gear
the same applies for any kind of country walk but we would recommend lightweight fleece type tops and light base layers. . If the weather is such that downpours are expected bear in mind that you will be getting in the sea anyway but it's always good to take a small packable rain jacket.
Rucksack
we don't recommend anything larger than a 20 litre backpack for day trips comma you certainly don't need a 30, 40 or 50 litre rucksack simply because you have to tow it in the water!
Food
Sure! Bring snacks, gels, flapjacks, chocolate bars or anything that you can eat as is. For the longer swim hikes you could also bring a jetboil stove and boil some water for some instant noodles and a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Swim gear
Depending on the sea temperature, length of the swims and other factors we would recommend either a shorty swimrun wetsuit, a triathlon shorty wetsuit or a full-size swimming wet suit. It is possible to do the swims with no wetsuit and we do this all the time but it will require some experience of cold water swimming and it does depend on the lengths of the swim legs and sea conditions.
Do I have to get changed multiple times?
This is completely up to you but it is why we suggest the swim run wetsuits because they have a front and back zip and are very quick to get on and off if you prefer to change into dry clothes. However they also drain very well and you can be fairly dry within a few minutes and simply put a fleece over the top to keep you warm. You can decide to continue walking in your wetsuit or get changed on the beach each time, it doesn't matter and is your choice.
How do I tow my stuff in the water?
This is the other main question we get and this is where you will require some specialist equipment but don't worry we have a couple of them for higher or if you wish to purchase one we can put you in touch with the supplier directly.
The swim hiking toe float is called a Ruck Raft, see below.
Any bow shaped flotation device such as freediving floats or even a rubberised inflatable bag can be used, depending on how much gear you have. The bow shaped front of the RuckRaft however does help reduce drag and especially in choppy water.
How far are the swim hike routes in Pembrokeshire?
This depends on what you are looking for. We have explored and mapped several different routes based on graded levels of easy/medium/difficult swim hike challenges and you can pick from one of those, based on your fitness level and what you would like to see along the way.
Alternatively you could let us know what kinds of things you would like to see - for example: terrain, forests, cliffs or even castles and neolithic tombs - we can tailor the swim hike route to your needs.
Why Not Give Swim Hiking a Go?
If you would like more information on our swim hiking routes or what it involved, get in touch with us here.
Or...
If the above sounds like fun then you're already half way there - please click the button below to check out our swim hiking routes.
Thanks!
