WINDERMERE
The longest natural lake in England is synonymous with marathon swimming. By Pete Kelly
MANY UK CHANNEL SWIMMERS WILL CUT THEIR TEETH IN ITS FRESH WATER
Long distance swimmer Karen cracking along on her Windermere swim
Pic credit: Pete Kelly/Swim The Lakes
We gear up in a flurry of heavy rain drops – me in canoe kit and cag, and Karen in her cozzie, swim cap and goggles. The sky is leaden but there is a bit of sun behind it and the water is warm after weeks of good weather, yet I still shudder a little on behalf of Karen who slips into the water without a fuss and gets on with it. We are at Fell Foot, and ahead of us lies an iconic distance swim: 10.5 miles of swimming from Fell Foot to Ambleside, Waterhead - the length of Windermere.