Winter swimming may not be for everyone, but we know that many of you enjoy the exhilarating swimming experience that the colder conditions has to offer. To ensure that swimmers remain safe as the temperature drops, we've implemented some important changes to our swim courses.

Last year between December and April, we added a new 140 metre-long 'Winter loop' which proved to be a very successful addition. With the water temperature now dipping below 12 degrees, we've taken the decision to reintroduce this popular short swim course over the Winter. For those not familiar with this new course, the best way to describe it is the 'out to the crack and back' loop - from the quayside swim entry point to the opposite side of the lake in front of the crack in the quarry wall.

Please do not combine the winter loop with our other swim courses as a 'shortcut start'. This and other route combination creativity creates confusing extra work for our already hard-working lifeguards!

The opening of the winter loop brings another important safety change to our swim courses - the 750 metres swim loop is now closed until April 2024. The swim buoys at the far end of the 750 metres loop have now been pulled out of the water until April 2024.

Other swim lakes around the country implement a shorter maximum swim loop as good practice and we have taken the decision to do the same. With the 750 metres loop closed over the Winter months, the longest loop will be now be 550 metres. Swimmers are still welcome to swim further than 550 metres, but as a combination of shorter loops instead of one long 750 metres loop.