THREE COASTS OF CORNWALL

We head towards St. Just and the exposed headland of Cape Cornwall, England’s only Cape and the most westerly point in the country. From here it’s time for our first significant crossing of the trip as we swim to the twin islets of the Brisons, which are located 1½ kms out to sea.

The afternoon is given over to staying in the far west and we focus on a coastal swim very close to Land’s End at Sennen. We head out from Sennen Cove towards Gwenver Beach. The swim is both dramatic and rewarding, but if the surf is too big to allow a safe exit at Gwenver we will swim a shorter circuit to the Cowloes Reef and back to the safe harbour at Sennen.

Today we base the trip on the North Coast in St Ives Bay. The morning is taken over with an island crossing from the mainland at Gwithian to Godrevy Lighthouse constructed in 1838 to mark the Stones reef, a hazard to shipping for centuries. This landmark was the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s famous experimental novel ‘To The Lighthouse.’ We explore the reef floor and caves under the island, especially near low tide. Also, expect encounters with curious seals as a large colony is based in a secluded cove just 800m to the north.

In the afternoon we travel to the wide golden sands of Hayle beach and swim past Hawk’s Point and Carbis Bay finishing at the artist colony of St Ives where you have an opportunity to look around this picture postcard town. If time allows we will stay for dinner at one its many eateries.

Today we journey down to the remote Lizard Peninsula. Our morning swim sees us depart from the picturesque village of Port Mellion and carry out first a crossing and then a full circumnavigation of the uninhabited island of Mullion which is home to colonies of migratory seabirds.

Later we travel further down the Lizard to Kennack, where we undertake a stunning coastal swim featuring rocky landscapes, isolated beaches and inlets along our route. Passing the old Serpentine quarry at Poltesco, the fishing hamlet of Cadgwith is our destination. We aim to visit the Cadgwith Cove Inn, famous locally for its local shanty singing.

Today we experience one of the undoubted highlights of the trip as we head to Marazion, Cornwall’s oldest town from where we set off on a circumnavigation of the iconic St. Michael's Mount. It’s a fantastic swim as we journey out, around and back from this remarkable island.

Following time for lunch, we enter the sea at Battery Rocks in front of the historic Jubilee Pool. From here we start off with a bay swim taking in the sights of Penzance and the fishing town of Newlyn, before we turn south and approach the Gwavas Cliffs on our way into the tiny harbour of Mousehole before returning back to Penzance where this trip comes to an end.

Essential Equipment Checklist

In addition to normal daily clothes, you will need to bring the following:

• Swimming costume (2 of)
• Swimming goggles (2 of)*
• Sun Hat and sunglasses
• Waterproof sun cream
• Towel
• Small daypack
• Walking shoes
• Sweater/fleece/waterproof jacket

*It is advisable to have a pair of tinted goggles to cater for the sun's glare off the sea during swims.

Swim Hats, Flippers, Rashvests and Wetsuits and Water Bottles

Please note that SwimTrek will supply swim hats. We will have a limited supply/range of flippers, rashvests and wetsuits available on the trip, but we cannot guarantee sizes for all. If you have your own flippers, rashvest and wetsuit we would recommend you bring these with you in order to maximise your enjoyment of the trip. Please note that SwimTrek will provide water and electrolyte drinks in shared water bottles on your safety boat. If you prefer to use your own drink bottle, please feel free to bring one along.

Swimming Distances

*Due to the fickle nature of Cornish weather and sea conditions, we have a number of alternate swims for any single day;

Walking Distances

The walking is moderate and we use the South West Coastal Path on some occasions. We would advise either walking sandals or trainers. It will not be possible to avoid some of our walks as there is no road access to some swim locations.

Temperatures

These temperatures are indicative only and can change on a daily/weekly basis

Boat Support

To allow us full flexibility to choose on which coast we swim each day, we use motorised inflatable boats and rescue boards to provide safety cover. We travel to the swim routes by minibus and meet our escort boats at the swim start. Due to the launch sites around the coast we will sometimes be required to travel to and from the swim location on board the inflatable ribs.

Swimming Conditions

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience but you need to be aware that certain marine life such as jellyfish, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however if you suffer from anaphylaxis please consult the office prior to booking.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out our swims. As a consequence, open water swimming holidays require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your SwimTrek guides as quickly as possible.

Group Size

This trip has a maximum group size of 11 people. The group will be split into 3 based on speed. Each group is accompanied by their own safety escort/vessel.

The Stanley Guest House is located on the seafront, around a 15 minute walk from both the coach and train stations.

Train & Bus

For full details of the trains to Penzance we advise using the www.nationalrail.co.uk website. Both National Express and Megabus run services to Penzance from all major UK cities. They can be long journeys, however they can also be a cheap travelling option. For instance, although the schedule for Megabus is only showing January 2015, tickets from London Victoria cost from as little as £1. More information can be found at www.nationalexpress.com & www.megabus.com.

Car

For those wishing to drive to Penzance the postcode you will need for SatNav is TR18 4DW. The Stanley Guest House also offers free parking to residents.

Accommodation

The Stanley Guest house on the promenade in Penzance is owned and run by Kate Johnson and offers high standards of guest accommodation and a very friendly, relaxed service. To maximise the enjoyment of the tour, the accommodation is based on twin-share en-suite rooms. (Please note there is limited single supplement availaility).

Meals

All breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners are not included. For lunches, swims are generally planned to finish near casual beach side cafes. For dinners we will generally dine together, but you also have the ability to choose where and with whom you would like to dine.

Extra Expenses

You should bring extra money with you to cover items such as entertainment, lunches, dinner, snacks, souvenirs etc. We recommend bringing around £25 a day.

Passports and Visas

Cornwall is part of the United Kingdom. If you are from outside the UK, you will require a full passport to enter, that should be valid for 6 months beyond the expected length of stay. Holders of Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African and US Passports are given "leave to enter" the UK. Citizens of the EU do not need a visa to enter. Visa regulations do change so please remember to check for the most up-to-date information.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are necessary but you should ensure that your tetanus immunity is up to date.