Find your
joy.
Open water swimming and sauna.
Nature as it comes.
Some places make you
feel more alive.
Tucked into the Lincolnshire countryside, just 12 miles north of Lincoln, Brightwater Reservoir is a place for a quiet swim, a catch up with friends or a few training laps. We have a sauna overlooking the water, sessions for paddleboarding and kayaking, and events throughout the year, from full moon swims and solstice gatherings to sunset pizza evenings and our favourite Sunday Social.
A swim like
no other.
You don’t need previous open water swimming experience to visit Brightwater Reservoir.
- General swim
- £6.50 per person
- General swim session length
- At least one hour
- Tow float hire
- £2 per session
If it’s your first time or you’re building confidence in the water, we recommend using a tow float.
Paddleboarding and kayaking are available in separate sessions, at £6.50 per person.
Swimming is for ages 16 and over. Swimmers aged 16-17 must use a tow float. Tow floats are optional for swimmers aged 18 and over.
Help us care for the water: please avoid applying sun cream, heavy lotions, oils or other body products immediately before entering the reservoir.
Swimming is always supervised. Please note there is no lifeguard on duty.
Explore swimming ↗Cold water.
Warm welcome.
Our purpose built sauna overlooks Brightwater Reservoir through a large window, offering views across the water and surrounding fields. Opening 18 October 2026.
- Price
- £15 per person
- Your session
- 55 minutes of sauna and swimming
- After your session
- Reservoir access for an extra 30 minutes
You can move between the sauna and reservoir as often as you like during your session. The sauna seats around 8-10 people.
Sauna access is for ages 16 and over. Guests aged 16-17 must be accompanied by an adult.
What to bring and sauna hygiene
Bring at least two towels and a bottle of water. Please bring appropriate slip on footwear for walking between the sauna and reservoir. Always sit on a towel covering the whole area beneath you, and ideally your feet too.
Rinse your feet before entering and leave footwear outside. Drinking water is welcome; other drinks and food are not. Keep oils, creams and lotions off the benches.
Private sauna hire is available. Please send us a direct message for more information.
Sauna & Swim ↗Something to
look forward to.
Events are a chance to spend a little longer at Brightwater Reservoir, catch up with familiar faces and meet new people. See what’s coming up, with dates, details and prices in our booking calendar.
Event prices vary and are shown in the online booking system.
View upcoming events ↗Upcoming events will appear in the booking calendar when published.
Moments by the water.
The water and the land
Brightwater Reservoir sits in a farming landscape managed with a strong focus on soil biology and carbon sequestration. By keeping living roots in the ground, protecting soil structure, reducing unnecessary disturbance through no till, and using careful nutrient management, we support healthier soils, cleaner water and more wildlife across the farm, while maintaining a carbon negative farming system.
Swimming through
the seasons.
Spring wildflowers, summer sunsets, autumn sunrises and frosty winter mornings. The reservoir changes throughout the year, and we stay open throughout.
Heading into winter swim season, our cold water induction courses will return sometime in October, with dates to be announced.
Come on in.
The water's lovely.
Swimming: ages 16 and over. Swimmers aged 16-17 must use a tow float.
Sauna: ages 16 and over. Guests aged 16-17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Paddleboarding and kayaking: ages 14 and over. Participants aged 14-18 must wear a life jacket. Participants aged 14-17 must be accompanied on the water by an adult aged 18 or over. Please bring your own equipment; hire is not currently available.
Facilities: our facilities are improving as the site develops. We currently have a stone surfaced car park, a temporary portable toilet and a communal changing hut.
Arrival: please arrive no more than 15 minutes before your session starts.
Sign in: a staff member will greet you on arrival. Everyone must sign in manually in the sign in folder before accessing the site.
Booking: general swim walk-ins are welcome during the winter months; online booking is not required. Walk-in sessions can be paid for by cash or bank transfer (BACS). Events must be booked online. Please book and pay online to secure a sauna seat. Sauna walk-ins are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Water access: enter via the walk in section or the jetty ladder only.
Swim direction: please swim anti-clockwise around the reservoir so everyone travels in the same direction.
What to bring: please wear suitable swimwear and bring clothing appropriate for the weather and season, including warm layers for after your swim. Swimming caps are optional for everyone.
Alcohol, glassware and drugs: none are permitted on site.
Pets: no pets are permitted on site.
Search for Brightwater Reservoir in your maps app for directions. The nearest postcode is LN8 2DQ, or use What3Words for the exact location: ///clasping.giggled.puddles
Common questions
Do I need to book, or can I turn up?
General swim walk-ins are welcome during the winter months. Walk-in sessions can be paid for by cash or bank transfer (BACS). Events must be booked online. Book and pay online to secure a sauna seat; sauna walk-ins depend on availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Do I need previous open water swimming experience?
No previous open water swimming experience is needed. If it’s your first time or you’re building confidence in the water, we recommend a tow float. Hire is £2 per session. Swimmers aged 16-17 must use one.
What should I bring for the sauna?
Bring at least two towels, a bottle of water and appropriate slip on footwear for walking between the sauna and reservoir. Sit on a towel covering the whole area beneath you. Rinse your feet before entering and leave footwear outside the sauna.
What facilities are available?
We have a stone surfaced car park, a temporary portable toilet, a communal changing hut and a sauna. Bags and towels can be left on the bank top or in the changing hut, at your own risk. Food and drinks are available only when vendors are on site. The changing hut is wide enough for a wheelchair, but the toilet is not wheelchair accessible. We are working towards having a defibrillator on site, but one is not currently available. A gravel path leads to the water’s edge; access improvements are planned.
Can I come along without swimming?
Spectators are welcome. For events, there is a charge of £2 per spectator.
Can I hire a paddleboard or kayak?
Equipment hire is not currently available. Bring your own paddleboard or kayak for our paddleboarding and kayaking sessions; paddling is separate from general swim sessions.
Is the water tested?
The water is tested regularly, and no dyes are added. The reservoirs were originally filled using natural springs and rainfall from Saxby Cliff land, filtered through the farm’s carbon rich soils and limestone geology before being collected to supply the reservoirs. Today, they are maintained purely by rainfall, with no need for groundwater abstraction.
How big is the reservoir, and how far is a lap?
The reservoir measures 162 metres long and 52 metres wide, from the inside of one bank to the other. A rectangular swimming loop is approximately 350 metres, depending on the route you take. Please swim anti-clockwise.
How deep is the reservoir?
The reservoir is clay banked, with sloping sides that drop approximately one foot for every three feet out. It reaches around 20 feet deep in the middle.
Are there fish in the reservoir?
No fish have been introduced into the reservoir. The reservoirs have developed into a thriving natural ecosystem. Reeds, aquatic plants and the wildlife they support all play a part in maintaining a healthy natural balance.
What was the reservoir originally built for?
The reservoirs were built in 2000, originally intended for irrigation use. They can still serve the farm, but irrigation does not operate while swimming takes place.
Choose your session.
Bookings are not yet open. Session dates will appear here when available.
Need help with your booking?
Sauna & Swim: choose an available date and time, enter each participant’s details and complete the required declaration acknowledgment. Pay the full amount to confirm your seats.
Confirmation: check your email, including your junk folder. If you cannot find your confirmation, email swim@brightwaterreservoir.com before booking again.
Cancellations: email us at least 48 hours before your session starts for a full refund. With less notice, we normally do not offer a refund unless your seat is resold. If we cancel, you will receive a full refund or may choose another available session instead.
Swim only: winter general swimming is walk-in, with cash or bank transfer payment on arrival. Events require online booking.