Event Information

The Wild Wye Swim is a long-distance, non-competitive swimming event in the beautiful River Wye, first held in 2017. In 2022 200 places will be available for swimmers will swim from Kerne Bridge to Huntsham Bridge, near Symonds Yat, a distance of around 10.5km. A further 200 places will be available for swimmers to complete the 7km distance, starting from Lower Lydbrook. The later part of the swims includes the spectacular long bend in the river below the Yat Rock viewpoint. A short, 1-mile river swim will also be available,  including for accompanied juniors. Please note that most of this event takes place on private land.

The Swim is being organised by SARA – The Severn Area Rescue Association – and it is hoped that this event will become a significant fund-raiser for the charity.

Swimmers will all park at the event HQ and finish area close to Huntsham Bridge. They will be transported from there to their starts, and clothing not required for the swim will be transported back to the finish area.  Food and soft drinks will be available in the HQ & finish area.

Provisional outline timings are as follows:
Main Registration 0800-1000
Wild Wye 10.5km Start 1000
Wild Wye 7km Start 0900
1mile Registration 1000-1115
1mile Walk to start 1130
Wild Wye 1mile Start 1200

Qualified SARA rescue crew members, with their equipment and rescue boats, will be used to provide safety and first aid cover for the event.  It is hoped that Wye Dean canoe club will also provide safety kayakers.   For safety purposes swimmers will be required to wear wetsuits unless specific permission is provided by the organisers – this may be requested and will be at the organisers’ discretion.

SARA is grateful to WyeDean Canoe Hire and the Courtfield Estate for making available land for the main HQ of the event, and all the landowners and fishery owners for allowing the event to proceed.