Ellingham
OPENING SOON FOR 2024
**Please check our Facebook page for the latest updates**
Open Water Swimming is provided by Ellingham Water Ski & Wakeboard Club.
If you are looking for amazingly clean water to train in - then this is the lake to come to. The lake has the following distance loops marked out by yellow swim buoys: 400m, 750m and 1200m.
When are the sessions?
The 2024 swim season at Ellingham kicked off on Saturday April 6th - with Monday sessions starting on Monday 8th April. Sessions run at the following time:
Saturday morning 6.30am-8.30am
Monday 5.30pm-7.30pm
Wednesdays will begin in June - 6.15am-8am. Please note if attendance is low we will only open the 400m and 750m loop on those days.
Booking on the Actio system is released every Monday at 1pm for the week ahead. Please check Facebook for the most up to date information.
How much does it cost?
£7.50 - Pre-bookable via Actio only
£70 for 10 sessions (when booking the system will default to taking your credit rather than card payment)
Do you have lifeguards?
Yes, we have 3 whenever the entire lake is available. Sessions are monitored by one lifeguard on the dock and two out on the water on paddleboards. All 3 are in constant radio contact making sure you're all looked after. Please note that if we are ever short on lifeguards (this happens very rarely) then we will reduce the swim area to exclude the 1200m loop in order to monitor everyone effectively.
What do I need to bring with me?
A brightly coloured swim hat, and a wetsuit. Please note that we are very happy to accept non-wetsuit swimmers as long as they are accustomed to cold water and swim regularly without one. We do require all non-wetsuit swimmers to use a swim float which they must supply. We do have have a few spares we can loan in an emergency however we cannot guarantee it. If you are a newbie and simply do not own a wetsuit, you will need to wait until the water is a little warmer than it is at the very start of the season - this is for your own safety and our peace of mind!
Can I swim as a guest without signing up for NOWCA membership?
It is much better to sign up as a member as it reduces the cost of your swim and makes things much swifter on arrival. If you do want to trial a swim before committing to purchasing a membership you can swim as a guest but the cost in £9.50. We do ask that you make contact with us prior to coming though so we know to expect you. You will need to fill in some details before you swim, so please allow time to do this. We recommend arriving before 7am for the morning sessions or before 6pm for the evenings.
How much is the membership and how do I get it?
It's £15 for the whole year. Please sign up online BEFORE your first swim at www.nowca.org - hit the red 'REGISTER' button at the top of the page, complete the form, citing our venue name and you will be able to collect your wristband from us ready for your first swim! Your wristband can be used at all the NOWCA safety accredited lakes and venues all over the country.
**Please note that NOWCA members holding a red wristband will be given priority if there is a queue when they arrive at the lake**
Do you have an age limit?
Children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult in the water, but we do not have an age limit. We simply ask that you take responsibility for the child you are accompanying - please be sensible and take into account their ability/confidence level before you enter the water. Customers – register a child instructions
Parents can now sign up their child online (off-site, prior to coming to your venue) all information is available at this link - https://nowca-help.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/101000406504-how-do-i-set-up-an-account-for-my-child-children-
Do you have any coaches available for private sessions?
We have a couple of coaches who run private sessions at our lake should you need help with your technique. Please get in contact with us if you would like to arrange a session.
We also run some group coached session on Monday evening if you would like to book these please contact us direct. Beginners sessions run at 5.40pm and Intermediate at 6.30pm
Other notes
Car parking is limited to the duration of the swim session. Swimmers need to be off site by 09.00 on Saturday and 08.15 on Wednesday when the lake opens for skiing, but there may be the possibility of leaving a car for a couple more hours if you want to head off for a run or a bike ride. You will need to ask permission to do this. On a Monday evening we ask swimmers to be off site by 7.40pm
Contact our Swim Manager for more info by emailing ellinghamopenwaterswim@gmail.com.
Or check out our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Ellingham-Open-Water-Swim-507822332933381/
All swimmers must wear their NOWCA Safety Wristband every time they swim. It's your personal profile on your wrist, you use it to scan yourself in to and out of the water. Guest swimmers will be given a temporary wristband to wear which they must return at the end of the session.
As operators, the NOWCA wristband system means we know how many swimmers are in the water (and who they are), at any time. This is important for managing your swim safety.
For you as a swimmer, wearing your NOWCA Safety Wristband will speed your entry into the water plus record your swim time and distance.
**Please check our Facebook page for the latest updates**
Open Water Swimming is provided by Ellingham Water Ski & Wakeboard Club.
If you are looking for amazingly clean water to train in - then this is the lake to come to. The lake has the following distance loops marked out by yellow swim buoys: 400m, 750m and 1200m.
When are the sessions?
The 2024 swim season at Ellingham kicked off on Saturday April 6th - with Monday sessions starting on Monday 8th April. Sessions run at the following time:
Saturday morning 6.30am-8.30am
Monday 5.30pm-7.30pm
Wednesdays will begin in June - 6.15am-8am. Please note if attendance is low we will only open the 400m and 750m loop on those days.
Booking on the Actio system is released every Monday at 1pm for the week ahead. Please check Facebook for the most up to date information.
How much does it cost?
£7.50 - Pre-bookable via Actio only
£70 for 10 sessions (when booking the system will default to taking your credit rather than card payment)
Do you have lifeguards?
Yes, we have 3 whenever the entire lake is available. Sessions are monitored by one lifeguard on the dock and two out on the water on paddleboards. All 3 are in constant radio contact making sure you're all looked after. Please note that if we are ever short on lifeguards (this happens very rarely) then we will reduce the swim area to exclude the 1200m loop in order to monitor everyone effectively.
What do I need to bring with me?
A brightly coloured swim hat, and a wetsuit. Please note that we are very happy to accept non-wetsuit swimmers as long as they are accustomed to cold water and swim regularly without one. We do require all non-wetsuit swimmers to use a swim float which they must supply. We do have have a few spares we can loan in an emergency however we cannot guarantee it. If you are a newbie and simply do not own a wetsuit, you will need to wait until the water is a little warmer than it is at the very start of the season - this is for your own safety and our peace of mind!
Can I swim as a guest without signing up for NOWCA membership?
It is much better to sign up as a member as it reduces the cost of your swim and makes things much swifter on arrival. If you do want to trial a swim before committing to purchasing a membership you can swim as a guest but the cost in £9.50. We do ask that you make contact with us prior to coming though so we know to expect you. You will need to fill in some details before you swim, so please allow time to do this. We recommend arriving before 7am for the morning sessions or before 6pm for the evenings.
How much is the membership and how do I get it?
It's £15 for the whole year. Please sign up online BEFORE your first swim at www.nowca.org - hit the red 'REGISTER' button at the top of the page, complete the form, citing our venue name and you will be able to collect your wristband from us ready for your first swim! Your wristband can be used at all the NOWCA safety accredited lakes and venues all over the country.
**Please note that NOWCA members holding a red wristband will be given priority if there is a queue when they arrive at the lake**
Do you have an age limit?
Children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult in the water, but we do not have an age limit. We simply ask that you take responsibility for the child you are accompanying - please be sensible and take into account their ability/confidence level before you enter the water. Customers – register a child instructions
Parents can now sign up their child online (off-site, prior to coming to your venue) all information is available at this link - https://nowca-help.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/101000406504-how-do-i-set-up-an-account-for-my-child-children-
Do you have any coaches available for private sessions?
We have a couple of coaches who run private sessions at our lake should you need help with your technique. Please get in contact with us if you would like to arrange a session.
We also run some group coached session on Monday evening if you would like to book these please contact us direct. Beginners sessions run at 5.40pm and Intermediate at 6.30pm
Other notes
Car parking is limited to the duration of the swim session. Swimmers need to be off site by 09.00 on Saturday and 08.15 on Wednesday when the lake opens for skiing, but there may be the possibility of leaving a car for a couple more hours if you want to head off for a run or a bike ride. You will need to ask permission to do this. On a Monday evening we ask swimmers to be off site by 7.40pm
Contact our Swim Manager for more info by emailing ellinghamopenwaterswim@gmail.com.
Or check out our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Ellingham-Open-Water-Swim-507822332933381/
All swimmers must wear their NOWCA Safety Wristband every time they swim. It's your personal profile on your wrist, you use it to scan yourself in to and out of the water. Guest swimmers will be given a temporary wristband to wear which they must return at the end of the session.
As operators, the NOWCA wristband system means we know how many swimmers are in the water (and who they are), at any time. This is important for managing your swim safety.
For you as a swimmer, wearing your NOWCA Safety Wristband will speed your entry into the water plus record your swim time and distance.
Activities
Open Water Swimming
£7.50
Opening Times
From April 6th 2024 Saturday sessions operate early morning between 6.30am and 8.30am (some seasonal fluctuations due to sunrise time)
Monday evenings 5.30pm-7.30pm (from 8th April)
Wednesdays will open in June and run from 6.15am- 8am - we will only open the 400m and 750m loops unless numbers increase.
Monday evenings 5.30pm-7.30pm (from 8th April)
Wednesdays will open in June and run from 6.15am- 8am - we will only open the 400m and 750m loops unless numbers increase.
Address
Ellingham Drove
Blashford
Ringwood
BH24 3PJ
Telephone Number
07487673464