The Wye Swim Challenge
Starting in August 2011, Barbara Lewthwaite, owner of the Hollybush Inn, will swim the length of the River Wye from its source in the Welsh mountains at Plynlimon to Tintern Abbey, a distance of 140 miles. In doing so, she aims to raise £100,000 to support ‘Enliven’, a charity supporting sustainable community projects in towns and villages along its banks.
We aim to set up a ‘skills bank’ where people with skills, either at home or the workspace, mentor those wanting to learn in ‘real’ settings.
Barbara is hoping to swim approximately 20 miles a day, and is inviting people to join her for a short walk or even a long swim, or boat or float, on the wild side!
We invite every town and village along the way to get involved in the swim, be it in the form of demos, parties, selling wares or simply organising ‘clean up’ groups on their particular stretch of the river. At the end of each day join us to camp on the river bank with food, storytelling, music and a hot tub around a campfire.
We hope that this spirit of awareness and fun carries on to create community projects that our funds can support; To help, learn from and benefit each other and share in the richness of our beautiful natural surroundings.
We aim to set up a ‘skills bank’ where people with skills, either at home or the workspace, mentor those wanting to learn in ‘real’ settings.
Barbara is hoping to swim approximately 20 miles a day, and is inviting people to join her for a short walk or even a long swim, or boat or float, on the wild side!
We invite every town and village along the way to get involved in the swim, be it in the form of demos, parties, selling wares or simply organising ‘clean up’ groups on their particular stretch of the river. At the end of each day join us to camp on the river bank with food, storytelling, music and a hot tub around a campfire.
We hope that this spirit of awareness and fun carries on to create community projects that our funds can support; To help, learn from and benefit each other and share in the richness of our beautiful natural surroundings.
Why Not Dive In?
To get involved simply -
Have a look at the dates and places here
Decide what and where you want to do something
Fill out our contact form and/or give us a call or email so we can coordinate things together.
What You Can Do
Come and swim, canoe or raft along with Barbara..
Set up an event on the bank of the Wye for when Barbara passes by..
Advertise the event in your business..
Riverside businesses can increase their business by attracting more people to the Wye..
To get involved simply -
Have a look at the dates and places here
Decide what and where you want to do something
Fill out our contact form and/or give us a call or email so we can coordinate things together.
What You Can Do
Come and swim, canoe or raft along with Barbara..
Set up an event on the bank of the Wye for when Barbara passes by..
Advertise the event in your business..
Riverside businesses can increase their business by attracting more people to the Wye..
Who Is Doing What On Each Day so far? Click on the days below to find out....
The Wye Swim Timetable
Monday 29th August
Day One: 16 miles and the walk from the source
Plymnlimon to Rhayader Falls
Pont Rhydgaled (Break time)
Llangurig Lunch
Rhayader Falls (camp)
Tuesday 30th August
Day Two 22 miles
Rhayader Falls to Trericket Mill
Rhayader Falls (Break camp)
16 miles
Builth Wells (Lunch)
6 miles
Trerickitt Mill suspension bridge (Camp)
Day One: 16 miles and the walk from the source
Plymnlimon to Rhayader Falls
Pont Rhydgaled (Break time)
Llangurig Lunch
Rhayader Falls (camp)
Tuesday 30th August
Day Two 22 miles
Rhayader Falls to Trericket Mill
Rhayader Falls (Break camp)
16 miles
Builth Wells (Lunch)
6 miles
Trerickitt Mill suspension bridge (Camp)
Wednesday 31st August
Day Three 19.5 miles
Trericket Mill to Rhydspence
Suspension bridge Trerickitt Mill (Break Camp)
6 miles
Llyswen (break time)
4.5 miles
Glasbury on Wye
3 miles
Hollybush (lunch)
3 miles
Hay on Wye
3 miles
Rhydspence (Camp)
Day Three 19.5 miles
Trericket Mill to Rhydspence
Suspension bridge Trerickitt Mill (Break Camp)
6 miles
Llyswen (break time)
4.5 miles
Glasbury on Wye
3 miles
Hollybush (lunch)
3 miles
Hay on Wye
3 miles
Rhydspence (Camp)
Thursday September 1st
Day Four 20.5 miles
Rhydspence to Breinton Common
Rhydspence (Welsh/English border break camp)
2 miles
Boat Inn (break time)
5 mile
Turners boat (break time)
3.5 miles
Bredwardine (lunch)
4 miles
Bycross (Break time)
5 miles
New Weir (Break time)
2 miles
Breinton Common (Camp)
Day Four 20.5 miles
Rhydspence to Breinton Common
Rhydspence (Welsh/English border break camp)
2 miles
Boat Inn (break time)
5 mile
Turners boat (break time)
3.5 miles
Bredwardine (lunch)
4 miles
Bycross (Break time)
5 miles
New Weir (Break time)
2 miles
Breinton Common (Camp)
Friday September 2nd
Day Five 21.5 miles
Breinton Common to Hoarwithy
Breinton Common (break camp)
4.25 miles
Hereford (break)
4.25 miles
Hampton bishop (break)
4.5 miles
Homelacy bridge (lunch)
4.5 miles
Capler Hill (break)
4 miles
Hoarwithy (camp)
Day Five 21.5 miles
Breinton Common to Hoarwithy
Breinton Common (break camp)
4.25 miles
Hereford (break)
4.25 miles
Hampton bishop (break)
4.5 miles
Homelacy bridge (lunch)
4.5 miles
Capler Hill (break)
4 miles
Hoarwithy (camp)
Saturday September 3rd
Day Six 18.75 miles
Hoarwithy to Welsh Bignor
Hoarwithy (break camp)
6 miles
Holein-the-Wall (PGL centre) (break)
4.5 miles
Ross-on-Wye (lunch)
5 miles
Goodrich Castle (break)
3.25 miles
Welsh Bignor (Camp)
Hoarwithy to Welsh Bignor
Hoarwithy (break camp)
6 miles
Holein-the-Wall (PGL centre) (break)
4.5 miles
Ross-on-Wye (lunch)
5 miles
Goodrich Castle (break)
3.25 miles
Welsh Bignor (Camp)
September 4th
Day Seven 21.5 miles
Welsh Bignor (break camp)
6 miles
Symonds Yat East (break)
6 miles
Monmouth (lunch break)
2 miles
Redbrook (break)
4.5 miles
Llandogo (break)
3 miles
Brockweir Bridge Camp
Welsh Bignor (break camp)
6 miles
Symonds Yat East (break)
6 miles
Monmouth (lunch break)
2 miles
Redbrook (break)
4.5 miles
Llandogo (break)
3 miles
Brockweir Bridge Camp
