If you want to get a better understanding of what swimming Windermere is actually like, then it is covered in a recent TV programme on BBC called Countryside 999.
As you can guess from the programme title, it’s not exclusively about swimming and is actually about all the various ‘accidents’ that can happen in the UK’s rural locations and the emergency services that help in those situations. One of the people covered is a lake warden on Windermere and one of his duties was to check on a couple of groups of swimmers swimming the lake.
You can catch the programme on BBC iPlayer here – the swimming bits start from about 7 mins 30 seconds and again from about 31 mins.
What I love about it is that even the lake warden thinks they’re a bit mad!
Some of the swimmers setting off
Swimmers by the ferry (about half-way)
1000kmstowindermere 
‘Not currently supported’ on my device but will make for a good watch tonight! Thanks for posting 🙂
Have you had chance to watch it this evening?
Finally tonight!! That was filmed the day after my swim!! I remember the Lake Wardens telling us there were camera crew about. And a guy next to us on our campsite was swimming with the Yorkshire lot. A proper memory jogger!!!! Looked a bit lumpy though…..