A man will be leading a presentation on the history of swimhiking in Ambleside on 18 June. 

Peter Hayes, from Durham, is a lover of the sport, and of outdoor swimming in general. But he started swimhiking for practical reasons:

"There were occasions were I left my stuff on the beach which was no good. So I decided to take stuff with me in a swim sac so I could protect my clothes. 

"I then saw it was really good fun."

Peter attributes the current popularity of the sport to the pandemic: 

"It is starting to take off. Everybody started walking everywhere and then with the swimming pools shutting down that really boosted outdoor swimming."

He said that the sport has old roots:

"Swim hiking was known right as far back as ancient Assyria as a military exercise. 

"In the nineteenth century people started doing it for fun."

Peter is from Durham, but comes to the Lakes to participate in the sport: 

"Ambleside is a very nice location. It is a lovely place for a little swim hike loop.

"Ambleside is the starting point for a lot of adventures in the Lake District."

Peter will be leading the event from Alpkit at Ambleside on June 18.