Hurly Burly
North Wales, 12 September 2026
Join us for this wild and fast, season-ending 10km swim
Swim with us in 2026
Swim one of the wildest and most breathtaking routes in the UK.
Set in the dramatic Mawddach Estuary in Snowdonia, the swim begins on Barmouth’s sandy beach, sweeps under the iconic railway bridge, and carries you inland on the fast-flowing tide.
Arrive at The George III in Penmaenpool to steaming hot chocolates, hearty meals and the unforgettable atmosphere of one of the country’s most iconic adventure swims.
Enter now with a charity place and help raise funds for Level Water. Earlybird prices are limited and will sell out:
£70 £50 available now
General entries are currently closed. Register your interest today for priority access to tickets, and be the first chance to secure a place
General and Volunteer tickets are limited and will sell fast. Be the first to know about 2026 price rises and general entry release dates:
The Iconic Hurly Burly
Set in North Wales on the edge of Snowdonia, this is one of the most beautifully wild river swims you’ll find. It starts on the sandy beach of Barmouth, and takes swimmers underneath Barmouth Bridge, a mile and a half wide iconic railway bridge. The first part of the swim is up the wide and sandy estuary with mountains on either side, and then it’s through ‘the narrows’ and into a more sheltered part of the estuary.
The whole swim takes place on a fast incoming tide that works like a bore to assist your swim. Past the narrows the water speeds up further, and the landscape becomes pastoral, the banks closer to you.
The swim ends at the George III in Penmaenpool, to dry off, change, gather for hot food and warm up around the fire pit.
Swim Difficulty
This swim is best suited for experienced outdoor swimmers. The route can be choppy and the conditions can change quickly, so it's important to be prepared. If you're newer to outdoor swimming or still building your confidence in open water, you may want to consider a less demanding event first.
Swimmers should be comfortable swimming at least 6km and ideally able to maintain a pace of around 40 minutes per mile (based on a steady, continuous front crawl in a pool, without big push-offs).
You may encounter colder temperatures and wind, both in and out of the water, so bring appropriate kit—such as extra neoprene layers for swimming and a windproof layer for the run. We recommend including a variety of outdoor swims in your training, especially in windy or choppy conditions, so you're ready for whatever the day brings.
Swim Safety
We take our swim safety very seriously, and will have the following measures and support in place to give you peace of mind when taking part:
There will be a main briefing at the start for all swimmers about 45 minutes before entering the water
15 minutes prior to the main briefing there will be a briefing for swimmers with disabilities or swimmers who require extra help
There are paramedics on hand at all times and qualified lifeguards with medical training
Our Water Safety Team will be on the water and in sight throughout the event including staff on kayaks, boats and jet skis. They are local and have years of experience on this river.
If you require assistance, our lifeguards are all first aid trained, qualified and experienced. They can help you take a rest, give you a little encouragement, jump you forward a bit, or bring you to the finish for medical assistance.
A warm up tent is available if you need it.
Testimonials
“The atmosphere at the start was amazing - everyone was just so excited as we crossed the beach. Then halfway out the tide swept us away. I bumped into some of the friends I’d made as we went under the bridge. We all couldn’t stop laughing - it was such a thrill!”
“My partner and I came up for the week with our dog. Stunning scenery and loads to do in the area! In the river I remembered to look up, seeing the mountains around me was so spectacular. 10/10”
“Really well organised and friendly event. The river gave us quite the ride. Good idea to finish at a pub too.”
“Before the Hurly Burly, we didn’t know what Level Water does getting disabled kids into swimming. We’re going to come back next year with charity tickets”
What’s included with your ticket:
timing chip
swim hat
baggage storage and transport
a beautiful enamel Hurly Burly mug and finisher’s hot chocolate to warm you up after the swim
world-class lifeguard and medical cover
travel back from the finish
personalised accessibility support (a swim that welcomes everyone)
our festival-like event village
optional merchandise (t-shirt / jumper)
delicious hot food to purchase at George III pub after the swim
Why swim for Level Water?
A charity ticket is the best way to guarantee your entry. You’ll also be funding adapted swimming lessons for disabled children. Level Water provides 70,000 adapted swimming lessons every year, and we couldn’t do it without the support of people like you.
What you get with a Level Water fundraising ticket:
- Guarantee your place before the rush for general tickets
- Save 50-70% on your ticket price
- Help thousands of disabled children learn a life-saving skill in 2026
- Year-round fundraising support - from personalised messages to video case studies, we’ll give you everything you need to reach your target
An unbelievable set of rewards and thank-you gifts from our sponsors.
In 2025 they helped us to give away:
- A £3,000 SwimTrek holiday
- 40 glamping weekends on the Bantham Estate (money-can’t buy … this is the only way you can camp on the Estate, year-round!)
- Two weekend stays at the stunning River Dart Hideaway
- £20,000 of matched funding
- 100 pairs of Vivobarefoot shoes
- Two RED Paddleboards
- Six Zone3 wetsuits
- Twenty pairs of SWANS goggles
- 800 Level Water beanies
- 400 RED drybags
- 200 Level Water swim hats
- Thank-you postcards, Level Water and Hurly Burly stickers, and even more for reaching fundraising milestones
