26th S'Eixugador - Aiguafreda Open-Water Swim

Swimmers set off from one Begur cove and finish in another, tracing a stretch of the Costa Brava that's all pine-topped headlands, clear green water and rocky little inlets. It's been going for a quarter of a century now, which tells you the locals take it seriously, though the mood on the day is more friendly than fierce. Caps bob along just offshore while families spread out on the sand to watch.

You don't need to swim to enjoy it. Plant yourself on the beach at Sa Riera or Aiguafreda, watch the field round the points, and you've got a fine morning. If you do fancy a go, the entry forms are in Catalan and Spanish, so bring a translation app or a willing local. Either way, the water here is worth the trip on its own.