Between May and October each year Windmilers “home” open water venue is Shepperton Open Water Swimming Lake (http://www.sheppertonopenwaterswim.co.uk/contact). 

The lake is owned and run by a family business which lends to an exceptionally friendly atmosphere and for many it becomes their summer “happy place”. There will be Windmilers down there every weekend morning (with the flag flying in regular summers on a Saturday morning) and also on several weekday evenings. There are two loops – a red buoy 400m and a yellow buoy 750m. Afterwards, the “Wacka” van serves hot drinks and snacks. There is ample onsite parking and whilst there are changing rooms, most people change at their cars or by the benches.

Regular opening times between May and September are (noting times may vary as the summer light increases/decreases):

  Monday: 5pm – 8pm

  Wednesday: 5pm – 8pm

  Friday: 5pm – 8pm

  Saturday: 6.30am – 11am

  Sunday: 7am – 11am

The Lake normally arranges competition races four evenings during the summer – 750m, 1,500m or 3,000m distances – but these are suspended for 2020 and 2021 with Covid. One evening late in August there is always an ever-popular night swim with fireworks and the 400m loop is lit up to guide us.

If you are a new swimmer to the lake, you will need to complete a health questionnaire and a short, five-minute induction before your first swim. Either email them on info@sheppertonopenwaterswim.co.uk or message them via Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/SheppertonOpenWaterSwim. Once the Lake have set up your registration, you will be able to book online.

Windmiler members sometimes organise intermittent “welcome to open water swimming” sessions. Meanwhile, Windmilers have a discount arrangement with the lake’s resident coach from SwimLab, who offer excellent individual one to one and group coaching sessions.