Castle to Castle Challenge | New Forest National Park
6 - 8 June 2025
"The three-day swim from Castle to Castle, County to County"
Take on an epic three-day challenge to swim from Highcliffe Castle in Dorset to Hurst Castle in Hampshire, with the tides supporting your journey.
Accommodation Options:
- Hurst View: Bring your own camper or tent for a true outdoor adventure.
- Seascape Lodge: Stay in a beautiful private house with a large garden, complete with a daily breakfast hamper.
- Book your own accommodation somewhere between Hurst Castle and Highcliffe Castle
Route Options:
Not ready for the full distance? We’ll plan optional shorter routes each day, approximately 1km or 2km, to suit your preference.
Full Challenge Details:
- Total distance: Approximately 12km
- Daily swims: 3-4km
- Flexible swim times to align with favourable tides and winds.
How it works:
- You will be in a WhatsApp group with all of our participants
- The day before the swim, we'll tell you where to park your car, depending on your desired distance (1km, 2km, 4km). You can then walk, taxi or lift share to the start point for that day.
- Shore crew will mark the relevant distances and provide care and directions when you leave the water.
- Lifeguards and boats will keep you on track whilst in the water.
Cake at the finish point!
Requirements:
This challenge is suitable for anyone who can confidently swim 1km.
Meet the Swim Guides:
Mel is TWSCo’s full-time swim guide and a qualified Beach Lifeguard, Open Water Swim Coach, and National Water Safety Management Programme graduate. She’s currently studying for her Diploma in Cold Water Therapy while working as a nutritionist, personal trainer, and swim school operator.
Favourite swim: Bossiney Cove, Cornwall
Favourite retreat: Spring in Cornwall
Favourite cake: Lemon drizzle
Becky joined TWSCo as a hospitality assistant and became a qualified Beach and Open Water Lifeguard in 2023.
Favourite swim: Old Harry Rocks, Dorset
Favourite retreat: Studland, Dorset
Favourite cake: Millionaire’s shortbread
Rich
Rich is a Beach Lifeguard, Open Water Swim Coach, and National Water Safety Management Programme graduate. He’s also an RNLI lifeboat crew member and a National Trainer Assessor for The Royal Lifesaving Society, delivering water safety training across the UK.
Favourite swim: Any of Snowdonia’s waterfalls
Favourite retreat: North Wales Swim Retreat
Favourite cake: Carrot cake
You may also like the following events from The Wild Swimming Co.:
- Next month, 11th June, 08:00 pm, Full Moon Dancing Ledge Dip in Wareham
- This July, 19th July, 10:00 am, The Wild Swimming Festival 2025 in Poole
- This August, 15th August, 01:00 pm, Wild Swimming in Dorset | Studland, Durdle Door, Old Harry Rocks in Poole
Also check out other
Workshops in Ringwood,
Trips & Adventurous Activities in Ringwood.
