Little Marlow Lakes and the Westhorpe Watersports club lie in the heart of Buckinghamshire, providing a stunning setting for summer open water swimming.  At under an hours train ride from central London, the lakes grant an ideal escape from the city for both the casual swimmer and the training triathlete.

The Lakes

There are a number of lakes at the location, with one of the larger lakes open to swimmers.  The lake has beautifully clean water and is surrounded by greenery, making it an idyllic place for an evening dip.   The lake is square shaped and one lap of it is around 1.4km.  A lifeguard is on duty at all times while the lake is open to swimmers and an indemnity form must be filled out by all swimmers prior to entering the water.

Facilities

There is a traditional pine log Club House situated immediately next to the main lake, with changing rooms, showers and a small bar area.  Wetsuits can be hired from the lake-side and a variety of swimming accessories can be purchased, including ear plugs, hats, goggles and cakes(!).

Opening times

The lakes are open on Monday and Thursday evenings (including Bank Holidays) and are open from 5.30pm – 8.30pm, with the last entry being 8pm.  The 2011 opening dates are from 22nd April to 24th September.

Getting there

Little Marlow Lakes are halfway between Bourne End and Marlow.  By car, the lake is easily accessible via the M40 Junction 4 or M4 Junction 8/9.  Alternatively, by train the closest station is Marlow with the train station being around a 1.5 mile walk away from the lakes.

Further information including coaching and wetsuit hire can be found on the Open Water Swim UK website.