CAMBRIDGE SWIM PICNIC
Sheep’s Green
Cambridge.
Saturday 4th July 2026
2.2km Social River Swim and Picnic (Wave 4 1.1km)
Entry £20.00 (under 16 £15.00) Early-bird discount for first 50 entries.
The picnic’s FREE (bring your own picnic), bring cake to share!.
Sign-up for 2026 Cambridge Slow Swim and Picnic
The Cambridge Swim Picnic isn’t a race. It’s a social swim and a picnic at Sheep’s Green, in the historic city of Cambridge. You start and finish in the heart of the city, a short walk from all of the historic buildings.
You swim out and back through the nature reserve, known as Paradise, as far as Grantchester Meadows, traditional spot for undergraduates to picnic and swim on lazy afternoons.
The Cambridge Swim Picnic is part of the Slow Swimming campaign, aimed at encouraging swimmers to take their time and enjoy the opportunity to be out fully immersed in nature.
We campaign for clean rivers and lakes. Petitioning to have popular local areas designated as bathing quality. In the meantime, we test the water purity ourselves to ensure the safety of our events.
There are no timing chips or results sheets. Everyone who takes part is a winner equally.
We are very keen to get children used to, and enjoying, swimming outdoors. This will improve their safety in and around water and should encourage them to be lifelong outdoor swimmers. There isn’t an age restriction as such, but obviously we would be depending on your adequate supervision of anyone under 16. I would very much recommend that they wear a wettie, as children lose heat quicker than adults when in water, and unless they are very good swimmers a form of buoyancy aid.
To give everyone an enjoyable swim the event is split into waves. Each wave goes off over periods of time, so there is no start signal and mass start.
Wave one: Seriously Need More Cake (Known as Serious), open from 10:30am to 10:45am. Choose this wave if you would like to actually swim fast.
Wave two: Relaxed ’cause we know where the cake is hidden (Known as Relaxed). Steady pace – no rush. Open from 10:45am to 11:00am.
Wave three: Enjoying the Journey (Known as Enjoying it). Sculling along, maybe with a bit of paddling, smiling and chatting. Open from 11:00 am to 11:15am
Wave four: Pooh Sticks. Shorter distance of 1.1km, but just as much to see. Basically it’s for people who would prefer something a bit shorter but want to really enjoy the scenery and float along using floaty things (nothing bigger than a lilo please) and stick out the occasional hand or foot to paddle. It could be as little as arm bands or a rubber ring. Open from 12.00pm to 12.15pm.
BUT – please make sure it’s both safe (won’t go down and drown you) and won’t damage the river or river banks. We are here to help look after the river!
Start times subject to change nearer the day. Please note that Wave four requires a walk out to either the short start of 0.5km or the longer one of 1.1km. Both of these are then downstream back to Sheep’s Green
Registration is in the picnic field at Sheep’s Green.
This year we are proud to be raising much needed funds for the Cam Valley Forum
The Cam Valley Forum is a voluntary group established in 2001. They work with their extensive network of partners to protect and improve the environment of the River Cam and its tributaries. They help identify, monitor and tackle problems affecting the river.
1. Click the ‘Sign Me Up button’ to go through to Entry Central
2. Entry costs £20.00, (£15.00 under 16s), and which wave they would like to be in.
3. Decide whether you would like an event patch for your towel or robe. Cost £6
You can pay by any type of payment card using the checkout.
Sign-up for 2026 Cambridge Slow Swim and Picnic
Cam Swim Picnic Briefing notes.
You’ll find below some useful notes for the day.
Travel
Please try to car share, use public transport, cycle or walk to the registration point at Sheep’s Green if possible. If you want to arrange to car share click through to the event Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1687855674617188/
Parking
If you are arriving by car there are a variety of places to park.
The Cambridge Park and Ride is at Trumpington. Buses run every 10 minutes from 8am. You should get off the bus at ‘Botanic Gardens’ stop, from where it is a short walk across the bridge. Just as you get across the bridge there is a gate on the left had side of the road that takes you down to the river on Sheep’s Green.
Trains
Trains run from London Kings Cross and Liverpool Street to Cambridge. Cambridge Station is a 15 minute bus ride or 5 minute cab journey to The Driftway, Lammas Land.
Registration
The first thing to do is to register yourself at the table in the small marquee on Sheep’s Green near the Cambridge Canoe Club building. You must have already entered the event on-line to be able to participate. There won’t be any new entries on the day.
Registration opens at 9.30am.
Swim start
Each wave starts within a time interval, there’s no rush. Spread out your start so there’s plenty of space to swim in. If you are late for your wave, don’t panic – just join in with the next one. The waves are to spread people out.
If you are used to swimming outdoors you are welcome to swim in just a swimming-cosie. Most people will be using a wetsuit, either a purpose made swimming wetsuit or a surfers wettie.
(In answer to a message -)There is a history of unclothed swimming in the Cam and if this is your thing then – no problem, but please be sensitive to the feelings of others and be as modest as possible.
The Picnic.
First go and wash your hands and face. This is not just for general hygiene but also a wise precaution after having swum in an open river or lake as a guard against ‘Weil’s disease’
Weil’s disease
Cover any open wound with a waterproof plaster. Wash your hands and face after swimming and before eating. If you get flu or jaundice-like symptoms three to fourteen days after swimming ask your doctor for a Leptospirosis test. It is simply treated with antibiotics.
Now eat cake, drink pop and bask in the glory of your achievement.
Contact: Stuart Hamilton: 07957844512, stuart@slowswimming.org or via the Facebook group
Join the event Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1687855674617188/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/SlowSwimming/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/slow_swimming/