Hurly Burly 2025
So I recently had the privilege of documenting one of the most breathtaking open water swimming events in the UK — the Hurly Burly 2025. Set against the stunning beauty of the Mawddach Estuary in Wales, this 10km wild swim draws around 400 swimmers from all over the country, all coming together to celebrate the joy of outdoor swimming whilst raise funds for Level Water, a charity that provides swimming lessons for children with disabilities.
As the event’s sole photographer, It was my brief to capture everything I could from start to finish. My day started early. I arrived at Barmouth just after 7am, as first light crept over the hills. The estuary was calm, the air cool & still, with a quiet anticipation hanging over the harbour. Swimmers were already beginning to gather — zipping up wetsuits, sipping coffee, doing last-minute stretches, and sharing nervous laughs.
As I moved through the crowds capturing those early moments of preparation. There was an incredible sense of camaraderie — a collective buzz in the air. Unlike competitive races, this wasn’t about speed or medals. There was no egos It was simply about the experience, the landscape, the personal challenge, and the shared journey.
Soon, the swimmers began their procession to the shore — hundreds in wetsuits making their way to the water’s edge, joined by a brave few wild swimmers wearing nothing but swimsuits or speedos, all topped with the iconic Level Water swim cap. As the tide began to turn, it marked the official start of the swim: a journey inland with the current, heading towards Penmaenpool.
To follow the swimmers, I jumped into a small dinghy along with the driver and Ian, the founder of Level Water. With our kit bags onboard, there was barely room for anything — or anyone — else. It was a tight squeeze, but it gave me a perfect (if slightly bumpy) vantage point to capture the event as it unfolded from the water.
Possibly my most tense moment of the day came as we passed underneath Barmouth's Grade II listed rail viaduct. It was here I decided it was worth the risk to get my drone up from the boat. I knew the perspective would be something special — the swimmers beneath, the bridge stretching overhead. But flying a drone from a moving dinghy, even in relatively calm waters is not straightforward.
It is fair to say I may have underestimated the challenge of landing the drone on a moving boat. But thanks to Ian and his confident one handed catch the drone lives to flight another day. A special mention also to British Rail for kindly lining up a train to pass over the bridge just at that moment.
As the swimmers neared the finish line, the banks grew steeper, and the George III Hotel in Penmaenpool came into view — a fittingly beautiful end point to the journey. Friends, family, and supporters were waiting along the shoreline, cheering.
The Hurly Burly isn’t just a swim — it’s an experience. A celebration of wild places, human endurance, and community spirit. I feel incredibly lucky to have documented this event from start to finish, and I hope my images reflect not just the physical effort of the swimmers, but the emotion and raw beauty of the event.
Charity Tickets for Hurly Burly 2026 are available now at the following link: Hurly Burly 2026
