Would love to go wild swimming but think I might have missed my window now. These are part of Wild Swim Scotlands Membership Programme. Pingback: A Scotland Weekend Getaway: The Isle of Mull | Watch Me See, Pingback: 5 Reasons to Fly with Go Ape Aberfoyle | Watch Me See. Here you can pick up last-minute swimming gear before venturing southward to the glimmering loch for a scenic swim! Wild Swim Scotland Membership Levels Our membership programme will include swim vouchers, which can then be used to book sessions as shown on our events calendar. Steep wooded rocky loch sides lead down to Rob A large calm pool beneath Waterfall or Gorge on River Pattack in Strathmashie community forest next to car park. A perfect, if small, plunge pool in open countryside with a fun rock slide. As long as the conditions are right, anywhere is a fantastic place for wild swimming in Scotland. Please adjust your search criteria and try again. kofiwidget2.init('Support Me on Ko-fi', '#af4d92', 'Y8Y0OQPK');kofiwidget2.draw(); Watch Me See is an Amazon Associate and an affiliate of Booking.com and others and thus I earn from qualifying purchases you make at no extra cost to you. Orkney is a veritable sweet shop for swimmers. Isle of Skye's SECRET FAIRY POOLS - Wild Swimming Scotland (Vanlife UK) Gemma and Campbell | highlands2hammocks 25.8K subscribers 86K views 9 months ago SKYE Get Surfshark VPN at. SwimWild is all about having fun and building confidence and skills in open water in breathtakingly beautiful parts of Scotland's Highlands & Islands. This summer I visited the north east and swam off every beach from by Oban to Durness. Here are some of my favourite outdoor swimming spots across Scotland. With plenty of science museums, historic ships, theatres, art centres and quirky bars, it is the ideal location to stay. In drier months, the current is lazy in this section of the River Forth and shallow enough for kids to paddle bring swimming shoes though, as the river bottom is rocky. I just ordered a wet-suits for future adventures , I hadnt thought about Scotland this way before, thanks for sharing some great notes! Our membership programme will include swim vouchers, which can then be used to book sessions as shown on our events calendar. 5 mins, 57.2832, -4.9280. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the bookRestorative Yoga for Beginners. Favourites were Sand, by Applecross (didnt know the UK PM was at a cottage nearby) and the beaches at Scourie near Lochinver. Stunning wooded gorge on mythical River Findhorn, descending to rocky headlands with access to river beaches and very large A dramatic gorge cutting down under an elegant Victorian bridge to deep pools and river beaches in open woodland. Located in the heart of Scotland, Perthshire is home to a gorgeous palace, ancient residence of Scottish monarchs and is easily accessible from all major cities. In the New Forest National Park, 566 km2 of picturesque woodlands, quaint villages, and a 40-mile coastline await. You might also like: A practical guide for snorkelling in Scotland. Afterwards, be sure to head to the close-by St Mocha Coffee Shop in Balmaha for a delicious treat. Haha for me it really depends on the outside temperature sometimes it is just the best thing in the world to jump into freezing cold winter. Theres nothingmore refreshing on a hot summers day than jumping into a lake, river or even the sea and Scotland is no exception. One of the most enticing beaches in the north of the country and theres a fair amount of competition. There might not be a Nessy here, but this loch in the heart of the Cairngorms mountains offers a fantastic wild swim. This swim is very close to the Grey Mares Tail Burn swims. While swimming here, you can look forward to paddling in the glistening waters while enjoying the sights of the dramatic dam and surrounding farmland. GPS coordinates: 55.83343, -3.44521 Its sheltered from A beautiful burn located in an ancient woodland. Save time and get one of my bulletproof Scotland itineraries. GPS coordinates: 56.09933, -4.56248 Its a very popular spot for visitors, with the hashtag #lochness being used over 450,000 times on Instagram! Stunning and wild backdrop. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? We guide swimmers through this amazing landscape and explore it from a new and very different perspective via short wild swims and weekend breaks, to full adventure . Tide goes out 0.3 miles then sea bed slopes steeply. A stretch of crystal clear water with waterfalls and rock-pools big enough to swim in. I remember it like it was yesterday. GPS coordinates: 55.862, -3.31768 From the B8009 just SE of Carbost take the turn signed Glenbrittle 400m E of IV47 8ST. Though wild swimming requires no memberships, clubs and swimming groups around the UK also saw a surge in interest during the pandemic. Beat the summer time beach crowds and head north with this guide to making the most of Scotlands underrated waterways. My favourite holiday destination in the UK has to be Suffolk, I have so many Sign up to receive exclusive offers, competitions and the latest news to your inbox, and you'll be entered into our monthly prize-draw 3 times! But they are also incredibly serene and who doesnt need a breath of fresh air water from time to time? If youre overwhelmed by all the options, check out my ready-made Scotland itineraries or book an enquiry call for my 1:1 itinerary planning services so we can work on your route together. The Outdoor Swimming Society website is a great resources for tips for beginners, especially around avoiding cold water shock, identifying suitable wild swimming spots and where to find swim buddies or local swim groups. If youre hiking the West Highland Way and the sun is out, this is an absolute must! Ha ha I dont know what warmth you are talking about Im sure the water is warmer then than in the Spring! What is wild swimming and why do it? Oh brrrrr I can imagine! A hike along Glen Rosa valley is an easy alternative to huffing and puffing up Goatfell on a sunny day. Then you come out of the water, you feel amazing, you feel alive, you dry yourself off so your skin starts to feel warm and tells your core that youre warming up so the core starts releasing the blood to extremities, explains Armour. Every year, people drown in Scotland because of cold water shock. With over 10,000 kilometres of coastline, and endless rivers and lochs, you'll discover there's a lot to appreciate and explore north of the border. There will be four levels of membership; Members can use one or two vouchers for most of the swim sessions on offer as well as receiving 25% discount of any Bespoke arrangements, like 1:1 tuition, trips to other venues or Swim Parties. Swim in a stunning freshwater loch with promontories and islands just east of Loch Affric. There was a problem. Popular for wild camping. From shallow rivers perfect for children and pets to paddle in, to silver stretches of sand on windswept islands. Listen to my podcast Wild for Scotland for lots of travel inspiration. It is popular when in spate Galloway Activity Centre, Loch Ken, Castle Douglas, DG7 4NQ. Ganavan Sands is a sandy beach just outside of Oban. Looking west onto the Island of Barra, this beach offers the signature Caribbean-blue waters of Scotlands north-west coast. A swimsuit might not be the first item you think about packing for a trip to Scotland, but let me tell you it would be a big mistake to leave it at home if you visit during the summer months! I love swimming and I love Scotland. You can reach these gorgeous cascades and their pools by walking from the village towards Aberlour Distillery. And finally, more important than whether you decide to take a wetsuit or a pair of water shoes, Armour advises you to always take a friend with you when you go wild swimming. All opinions are my own. Regular sessions will be held; most Monday mornings at 0745 at Groyn 5, Portobello Beach and every Monday evening at 1900, in the dusk with tow floats and lights at Wardie Bay. Dipping, Dooking or Swimming in Scotland's Beautiful Waters. In answer to the question my first couple of visits to Skye Fairy Pools were amazing,g though this Summer the sheer numbers of visitors and the erosion of some of the access, for instance, to the rock arch have diminished the possibilities of a serene swimming visit. Suitable for:Families. contact the editor here. Outdoor Activities. Oh, I need to add that to my list! This body of water is much bigger in size compared to its neighbour, with a capacity of 2,359 million litres! The Isle of Arran offers many swimming spots, including both river and sea. If you are acclimatised to the Cold Water but would like to join the Membership Support Programme, you will be required to meet with Maree for a shoreside session and a short dip to discuss your needs, prior to joining our group sessions. Despite being only a few hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh, it's an incredibly beautiful place, surrounded by lush . . Many places to swim from shore and potential to swim out Small lake by roadside in the pointyhilled Faerie Glen. Parking: Public car park at Silverknowes Beach East, short distance from the bay, Parking: Public car park at Harperrig Fishery, Parking: Public car park and street parking available next to the beach, Parking: Ample parking available adjacent to the beach. Suitable for:Adults. Sunday 26th March 1000 Groyn 5, Portobello. Contact Maree at wildswimscot@gmail.com to request a Membership pack. Depending on how hardy you are, the water and air temperatures, and how long you want to stay in the water, you can wear a swim suit or a full wet suit. You can reach the waterfall by venturing a short distance from the hamlet of Inversnaid. Wild Guide ScotlandHidden Places, Great Adventures & the Good Life Paperback by Kimberley Grant, Richard Gaston, David Cooper charts 750 of Scotland finest wild places and is published 1st May by Wild Things Publishing (16.99). The loch offers several swimming loops between 400-800 metres. Unleash your inner adventurer at one of these 14 best wild swimming Scotland spots. Interesting rock formations. So thats why weve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. Even this morning with the air temp at 2 degrees centigrade it had several hardy souls before 9. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These water bodies are gorgeous and so inviting headed there in October but likely no wild swimming for me. A mixture of sand and rock, Seamill Beach can be reached in a train ride from Glasgow. The conversation will go back to what it should be about people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Once on the island there is a series of quarry pools. Dan taught me breathing methods, mindfulness practices as well as swimming techniques. So, you can easily enjoy a relaxing swim here. Bring a towel and a flask with a good warm drink for after your swim. If you do decide to keep diving in once winter arrives, make sure to read our article on how to choose a wetsuit. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Swimming Wild in Scotland by Alice Goodridge is an informative and inspiring book for both new and experienced wild swimmers, featuring over 100 of the best wild swimming spots across the Scottish mainland and islands. Hi, I'm Lola and I joined the marketing team in 2021. In addition to baking sourdough bread and fostering puppies, wild swimming exploded across the UK during the pandemic, with loads of gutsy folk taking the plunge in this rainy island's copious rivers, lakes and coastal areas. From the A837 just N of Lochinver take the B869 NW, then turn L after passing sign for Achmelvich, past IV27 4JB to park at the road end next to the beach. On Watch Me See I share travel guides, itineraries and tons of practical tips for visiting Scotland. Useful information on the health & safety of Wild Swimming Scotland. When plunging into these waters, youll feel like youre in a fairytale, with an array of mountains and natural jacuzzis peppering the landscape. Swimming with the backdrop of such lovely landscapes in natural water bodies is definitely a unique experience. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Pretty much its swimming in wild waters, without any infrastructure for swimmers (just like wild camping). Follow the stream towards the mountain and explore the numerous turquoise pools, small waterfalls and even an underwater stone arch. There are also some From the A82 take a narrow single track road. With lots of plunge pools and smooth rocks for lounging on, this is a great place to spend a whole day or night, if youre a keen camper. It isnt far from the main road, and as such is popular with campers and other swimmers. Stunning islanded lake, rich in original Caledonian pine. Though no official membership is required to participate, the Wild Swimming Scotland Facebook group has over 70.9k members - with dozens of pictures and videos uploaded every day of people swimming in the rain, wind, and snow. The next day, a bunch of us set out to ring in the new year in true Scottish fashion: jumping into a freezing cold lake and we drove toGualachulain to jump into Loch Etive. When it comes to places with amazing waterfalls, Scotland is hard to beat! With the rising popularity, people from all over the country are seeking new secluded and peaceful locations, as the best wild swimming Scotland spots are swarmed by eager individuals. 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