The Hurly Burly: Shakespeare, Drummers and Rapid Waters in Barmouth
Swimmers going under the famous Barmouth bridge. Photo by Dan Jones
There are river swims, and then there is the Hurly Burly. Nestled on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, the Mawddach Estuary played host to 600 intrepid swimmers for one of the wilder, faster, and most thrilling events on the Level Water calendar.
Calm before the storm
On Friday afternoon, the classic Welsh seaside town of Barmouth was winding down to its out-of-season rhythm of fish-and-chip shops and rock stores. That was until 600 swimmers descended on the coast! The afternoon sun was glowing, and over 200 swimmers packed into the local Yacht Club for a pre-event Chili night. The room was buzzing, but beneath the laughter was a palpable mix of excitement and trepidation. Looking out over the water, everyone could see the ferocious tide sweeping through the estuary, a vivid reminder of the wild ride awaiting them the next day.
Atmospheric scenery down the whole route. Photo by Dan Jones
Shakespeare, Rapids, and Flying Under the Bridge
CEO Ian Thwaites set the mood at Saturday’s safety briefing, channeling Macbeth with a fitting nod to the forecast: "When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the Hurly Burly’s done. When the battle is lost and won!"
Moments later, swimmers plunged into the gushing incoming tide. The water whipped everyone upstream at breakneck speed. Reaching the iconic Barmouth Railway Bridge felt like shooting through river rapids; swimmers flipped onto their backs, floating under the massive arches and taking in the breathtaking views of Snowdonia's looming peaks as they flew past. With the tide doing the heavy lifting, the 10km journey flew by in a blur of motion and adrenaline.
Pouring Rain, Olympic Pace, and Echoing Drums
Midway through the swim, the heavens opened and torrential rain poured down over the estuary. Rather than dampening spirits, the downpour only heightened the wild, atmospheric drama of the brooding mountains. Adding to the excitement was Olympic swimmer Hector Pardoe, who started right at the back of the pack and effortlessly carved his way to the very front, giving everyone a masterclass. Once he’d finished he made sure to cheer all the swimmers home, which highlights the real community spirit of our events.
As swimmers neared Penmaenpool, the sound of live drummers echoed down the river, guiding everyone toward the bank. The finish line was bouncing. Because the tide pushed the entire field together, 600 triumphant, rain-soaked swimmers emerged from the water in rapid succession. They were greeted with roaring cheers and handed much anticipated hot chocolate in custom Hurly Burly mugs.
Smiles all round! Photo by Dan Jones
Unsung Heroes and the Impact
A massive thank you goes to: the entire Level Water team, our water safety crew, our wonderful volunteers, the Merioneth Yacht Club, George III Pub, Penmaenpool Toll Bridge staff, The Lobster Pot, Gwynedd Council, John, Kane, David, Gethin, Mark and everyone who stood in the pouring rain to cheer our swimmers home.
The Hurly Burly lived up to its legendary reputation, and we can’t wait to do it all over again next year. The current fundraising total for this event is £118,000, which will fund 7866 swimming lessons. Lets see if we can get to £130,000 eh?!
