Brief

To create a platform for access to a private lake for wild swimming.  Our clients, The Falcon Hotel, Castle Ashby wanted to offer wild swimming at their wellness centre and needed a structure that would be practical whilst also sitting comfortably within the grounds of the castle.

Solution

We designed, fabricated and installed an aluminium framed jetty with GRP grid.    The aluminium frame was powder coated to enable us to match the colour of the GRP grid and blend the look of the structure into the natural environment.   Oak posts were added to the permitter of the walkway to enhance the look of the structure.  GRP grid was chosen for this jetty to provide a non-slip surface to access the water but also to reduce the amount of cleaning needed as the resident ducks and geese were likely to show an interest in utilising the structure as well as the hotel guests!  The grid allows for a good proportion of waterfowl detritus to fall through the surface.

As well as the platform we also installed a swimming pontoon that was moored in the lake, for use by the open water swimmers when needed.  Marker buoys were also installed to mark the swimming course.

Challenges

Getting the positioning of this jetty was very important.  It was essential that the structure sat comfortably within the parkland surroundings and didn’t look out of place.

It was also important to provide a structure with a long service life and low maintenance.  This is the reason a powder coated aluminium frame was used, as opposed to a timber structure.