Nottingham

Temperature

WATER TEMP..

Opening Hours

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session times

Address

Notts County Sailing Club,
Hoveringham, Nottingham
NG14 7JX

Swimmer Information

FACILITIES

We suggest coming swim-ready or with a changing robe and making sure you have warm clothes to change into after your swim. In winter we do have access to a small (warm) changing cabin.

Swimmers are permitted to use the toilets in the club house though these should not be used for changing.

You can leave your belongings near the Love Open Water gazebo which will be manned by a member of staff during sessions. Please leave any valuable belongings at home as we can not take responsibility for any items lost of stolen.

Any items left at the venue will be held for a few weeks. Please ask the venue staff when you are next onsite to check the lost property box if you have left something behind.

Access to the swimming area is via a ramp into the water

We have many swimmers with different access requirements who swim with us. If you are unsure if the venue is suitable for your needs, please get in touch by submitting a form via our HELP page or posting on our Facebook Group

THE SWIM

Please make sure you arrive in plenty of time to change and check-in for your swim at the desk beside the cabin. New NOWCA members will be able to collect their band on their first visit.

Your swimming slot is your entry time to the water. This helps us safely manage numbers. Your swimming time is open ended up until closing time minus 10 minutes. If you wish to swim longer, you should book an earlier timeslot in the session.

There is a 100m out and back and 500m loop available at Hoveringham Lake. Loops available are dependent on weather conditions and will be determined by the Venue/Duty Manager at the beginning of the session to ensure swimmer safety. Make sure you ask which loops are operating when you check-in for your swim and familiarize yourself with the course and direction, before you enter the water.

If you wish to swim at Hoveringham, please download the ACTiO app, set up and pay for your NOWCA membership and then select Nottingham to check swim/event prices or to book your swim.

You can also book swims and coaching courses using the desktop version of ACTiO

Check under Available Activities for swim bookings and available coaching courses.

EQUIPMENT

Our venues are not wetsuit compulsory, however swimmers should be aware that the Royal Life Saving Society recommend swimmers wear wetsuits in water that is under 15°C.

We do not have wetsuits to hire at this venue. You can hire a wetsuit directly with our partners, Tri Wetsuit Hire. They offer a wide range of wetsuits and will help you find the right one for your purpose. There is short term and long term hire available. CLICK HERE to hire a wetsuit. * This is a sponsored link and we earn a small commission from Tri Wetsuit Hire from each hire.

All swimmers must have a valid NOWCA membership which comes with the NOWCA safety wristband. This is used to scan you in and out of the water. If you are a new NOWCA member, you will be able to collect this when you come to your first swim.

We ask that all swimmers wear a brightly coloured hat in the water. This can either be a swimming cap or a warm hat/ headband in order to both provide visibility to other swimmers and safety staff as well as helping retain vital core heat to prevent risk of hypothermia.

ALL SWIMMERS must use a tow float when they swim. These orange floats have a strap that clips round the waist. The orange inflatable float then bobs along behind the swimmer for added visibility and as something to hold on to should the swimmer start to feel uncomfortable in the water or experience cramp. We have a limited number of tow floats onsite for hire. We also have tow floats onsite to purchase.

We advise packing a pair of flip-flops/slides in your swimming kit to traverse from the cabin to the lakeside (approx 30m)

We have a number of swimming items available to purchase onsite, including caps, goggles and anti-fog spray.

For more information, see our HELP page

SAFETY

Those swimming outdoors for the first time at a venue of varying depth such of this one, should already have pool swimming experience including confidence in deep water. Our benchmark is the ability to swim 400m unaided.

Our lifeguards are RLSS Open Water trained, meaning their experience and skill is specific to an open water environment. As well as basic water rescue skills, they are also knowledgeable in areas such as cold water shock and hypothermia.

The safety team work to the RLSS Promotion, Recognition, Rescue framework; promotion of swim safety and swimmer education, recognition and subsequent reduction of risk and finally when required, safe efficient rescue.

Love Open Water venues operate using the NOWCA safety system. All swimmers must have a valid NOWCA membership which comes with the NOWCA safety wristband which is used to scan you in and out of the water. If you are a new NOWCA member, you will be able to collect this when you come to your first swim.

During the winter season (November – March), and when the water is below 15 degrees it is compulsory for all swimmers to complete a Cold Water Induction

Water testing is very important to us and is tested regularly at this venue.

FOOD & DRINK

We have tea/coffee/hot chocolate and light snacks available for swimmers but please ensure you BYO mug.

LOCATION

Our venue is within the Notts County Sailing Club. It’s a peaceful lake in a beautiful countryside setting, perfect for both distance swims and indulgent dips.

what3words ///downs.albums.summit – turnoff from main road

what3words ///exposes.stopped.crescendo – Access Gate

what3words ///dolls.fragments.factor – Parking

what3words ///clasping.healers.jumbled – Love Open Water Gazebo

There is free car parking onsite. You will need a gate code to enter/exit which will be sent in your confirmation email when you make a booking. Please ensure you follow the instructions for access / parking in the email and adhere to the 10mph speed limit.

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Not only is the venue outstanding at the Royal Docks the feeling of inclusion by all the staff is a huge factor in my own personal enjoyment of outdoor swimming. The fun aspect is also a big factor in why I continue to return not to mention the feeling of being safe in the water.- Nick Stagg - London

Love Open Water at Royal Docks.... a place i find calm amongst all the chaos. Lovely clean water within the historic docks. Urban swimming at it's best. All the staff are wonderful. So friendly, knowledgeable and encouraging. Keeping us safe in ALL weathers.- Karan Nightingale - London

NOTTINGHAM