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.

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!

How Far?

The distance of a typical swim hike can be anywhere between a few kilometres to 30 plus kilometers depending on the ability of the participants and of course the time it takes although it is possible to do multi-day swim hikes and throw in a fun camping session into the adventure.

You may be wondering what kit you need and how do you swim in hiking gear.

On the shorter swim hikes indeed you do not need to take that much and can walk and swim in the same equipment typically a swim run suit is perfect for this but you can also even use a well-fitting wet suit with some over shorts to prevent the neoprene from rubbing. Old trainers can be used to swim in much like swim running.

However on the longer excursions it does make sense to change in and out of your hiking and swimming gear and for this reason too you should choose the kit to be as efficient as possible

The Kit

The following is a guide and you should learn what works best for you and also understand the kit you will need is directly affected by the route and type of swim hike terrain you will be covering, the type of swims and water conditions, weather and so on, but the below items will be useful:

• Loose fitting trousers and tops so you can get them on and off easily.
• Lightweight hiking boots or shoes or sturdy trainers.
  
• An old wetsuit or one that you don't mind getting a bit beaten up, swimrun suits are perfect as they are often nylon lined on the outside for added toughness.
• A small backpack typically 20 to 30 litre capacity.
• A small first aid kit.
• Gels, chocolate bars or snacks.
• A compact gas stove if you are planning longer distances or camping.
• A bivvie or tarp type shelter and lightweight sleeping bag if you are going to camp.
• A pen knife or multi tool.
  
• A flotation system that will allow you to tow all of the above in the water such as a RuckRaft or even a homemade equivalent which is not difficult to set up. We have even done swim hikes with rubberized kit bags that simply float behind you, however they are not as streamlined beware of tiring yourself out!
  

Tip:

Aim to keep all of your equipment on the hike to less than 20 kilograms. A RuckRaft is perfectly capable of supporting up to 25 kilograms in choppy water.

The Route

Make sure you plan your routine advance and do a risk assessment if possible for the type of terrain you plan to cover as it will affect the type of kit you will need to take.

Don't exceed your capability or that of the group. Injuries can occur as people get tired and if everyone is exhausted then mistakes can be made so it's better to keep the distances fairly short to start and enjoy the experience.

Plan a few 'pit stops' like cafes or pubs or ice cream vans along the way! It does boost morale and energy levels if you can stop for a scone or ice cream along the way and finish up with a pint.

Cook food on the beach. It's usually ok to have a fire on a sparsely populated beach if you are sensible. And there is usually a lot of driftwood to burn and therefore no need to carry. Cook up some dried noodles or something dehydrated that does not take up any weight or space in your backpack. A hot meal will go a long way to keeping your energy levels up and then you can move on.

Multi Day

It is possible to combine a long swim hike with an overnight camp. 

Try Foraging for Spring/Summer Food!

Foraging is a great way to connect with nature and learn about the local plants and wildldlife; it's good fun, great for kids to learn about plant life and you never know, it may save your life one day!

Tip:

If you are new to foraging take a small foraging book with pictures to make sure you're foraging for the right stuff.

Usually in Spring time you can forage for dandelions for salads, wild garlic and nettles for a tasty addition to an instant soup or dehydrated meal; as well as pine needles for tea.

If you want to take it one step further and really go  'Robinson Crusoe' you can even fish for mackerel or sea bass or take a traditional spear with you and catch a spider crab, which are in season in May/June.

Take in a Variety of Natural Landscapes

In Pembrokeshire we are lucky enough to have a variety of landscapes close to the coast such as beautiful, wide open moorland, freshwater ponds, sand dunes, pockets of ancient forest, all within hiking distance of the amazing seascapes you normally associate with this part of the world. Try to take in as much varied scenery as possible to make the experience even more amazing.

Swim Hiking, also known as Swim Trekking, Cross Country Swimming, and likely many other names, involves a combination of hiking and swimming, towing your gear behind you. With its rugged coastline and beautiful clear seas, the Pembrokeshire is perfect for it!

Autumn is a great month for swimming, when the sea is at its warmest and the light is crisp clear, with air temperature starting to drop. It all makes swim hiking a very pleasant activity.

So, when high pressure hit this weekend we took the chance to swim hike along a route we've had our eye on for some time, which incorporated a 5+km swim leg from Stackpole Quay to Freshwater East. 

After numerous recces of the route, I had an idea of where the challenging bits would be, but you never really know until you do it!  So, just do it!

It's often a good idea to walk the route beforehand as you can see hidden dangers and the effects of tides and wave action from a higher position, so I walked the coast path and planned the route in detail, as well as planned logistics such as pickups and also safety/cut off times/emergency procedures etc.

After a short walk to Stackpole Quay we packed our gear into a 20L capacity rucksack, making sure everything was secure and the essential/emergency items were easy to access. We then bundled this into a heavy duty waterproof bag, which was part of the RuckRaft assembly, and then headed off on the swim.

After numerous recces of the route, I had an idea of where the challenging bits would be, but you never really know until you do it.

There was a gentle swell for most of the swim, although the weather did start to roll in towards the end and we were being 'chased' by dark storm clouds with 1km to go, which added to the adventure. The water was very clear though, with 7-8m viz in parts, and was a lovely cool 16-17°.

The rucksack was about 8-10kg, which was towed on the 'RuckRaft'. The RuckRaft performed perfectly - it is such a great bit of kit. Contents of the rucksack included clothes, lightweight walking shoes, water, chocolate, powdered hot drinks and dehydrated food. The weight was fine although the wind did pick up half way and we started to notice the drag more as the swim went on.

Swim hiking can be as long or short as you like, but for routes over a couple of km long we recommend packing a small stove or at least taking a thermos flash of hot chocolate as this does wonders to keep your spirits up and warm you up after a cool swim.

Towards the end of a 5km swim, after towing this gear all the way, with no fins for assistance, the shoulders were starting to feel the strain, so I was glad to eventually get to shore for the subsequent hike.

Here you can see I made a nice cup of hot chocolate when I got to Freshwater East.  The stove in this case is a lightweight twig stove - driftwood is always available on beaches and the small fire has the added advantage that it can be used as a heat source if you're cold.

If you're wondering what to wear on your feet - choose something that packs quite small. There's no real need for heavy clunky hiking boots. And sometimes (rarely) you may want to even swim with them on, if you think you need to exit on rocky shorelines or rocky beaches.

Personally, I love the Vibram 5 Finger trail shoes and they're perfect for swimrunning/swim hiking. Lightweight, flexible, easy to drain.

I usually take an old army water bottle that takes about 1 liter of water, which is useful for keeping hydrated and also for hot drinks. I also pack a LifeStrawwater filter if I ever need to tap into natural water sources if I run out of water on route.

The Yorkie was great too!

The total distance of this particular route was about 7km, with the key element being the 4-5km swim in the middle of two short hikes.

Overall it was a very enjoyable route, but definitely requires respect in exposed areas and it's important to know your route beforehand so you can make sure you know all areas you can exit the water early if needed and carry on, on foot.

Also important to consider are whether the route is linear, do you need a pick up, what's the weather forecast, is it likely to change? What are the tides, currents etc.?

Reasearch, research, research.

Swim Pembrokeshire run Swim Hike excursions through the Spring, Summer and Autumn - contact us here to do a swim hike in Pembrokeshire!

Feel free to contact us for more details of our swimrunning excursions.