DR Danny Longman, 34, evolutionary biologist and lecturer in physiology at Loughborough University, has taken on the gruelling challenge of swimming the full length of all 13 publicly accessible lakes in the Lake District in the quickest possible time.

Danny’s journey began on the west banks of Wastwater at 5:10am on Monday August 9, and ended 41 hours and 71km (44 miles) of swimming later (straight lines were rarely possible) on the northern end of Derwentwater, near Keswick.

He set a new fastest known time record, breaking the previous mark of 2 days and 9 hours set in 2020 by George Taplin. 

In order, the lakes included Wastwater, Windermere, Elterwater, Rydal Water, Grasmere, Coniston, Brotherswater, Ullswater, Bassenthwaite, Loweswater, Crummockwater, Buttermere and Derwent Water.

Danny Longman said: “It’s great to have set a new record after so much preparation. I came into the challenge feeling strong, and the first 18 hours or so went really well, ticking off the lakes.

"During the night we were 3 hours ahead of schedule, so I decided to take a quick 60-minute nap. I woke up almost vomiting from the smell of the damp wetsuits in the car, feeling groggy, nauseous and generally a lot worse than when I fell asleep.

"I then had to swim for almost 5 hours along the length of a particularly long and cold lake.

"Thankfully, the kayakers helped me navigate and the support team put me together again at the end with the help of some Eccles cakes, and I perked up as we drove to the next one.

"It was the support team that made this possible. I’d like to say a massive thank you to Mum and Dad, my girlfriend Adelina, and my mates Ben, Thommo, Alex, Dan, Colwyn, Kim and Huw for all getting stuck in.

"Usually my ultra-endurance adventures are in far-flung and remote parts of the world, so it was great to be able to share this with them. Thank you also to my sponsors Helly Hansen and Huub.”

The swim was undertaken to raise money in memory of Danny’s friend Stuart, who he describes as "an incredibly kind hearted, generous and humorous person" who volunteered at the Leeds North and West Foodbank.
Donations can be made here.

This isn't Danny's first record-breaking exploit. He has seven World Records for Arctic ocean rowing, he took on an unsupported six-month 10,000km cycling expedition from Mexico City to Ushuaia, and as a rower he was in the Cambridge University Boat Race Squad and was a national individual medallist.