wild swimming scotland

Bright turquoise and all shades of blue; white sandy beaches; kids building sand castles exchange the sunbathing sheep for some exotic iguanas all that is missing are the palm trees. Discover the best wild swim locations in Scotland, whether a river swim, a lake or even a waterfall. However, swimming in both Threipmuir Reservoir and Harlaw Reservoir should be avoided during angling season. The vibrant colours and clearness of the waters may seem attractive, but the temperatures are often very low. When it comes to spots for open water swimming in Scotland, youll be surprised to find a few surrounding the bustling city of Edinburgh. Satisfy your wanderlust, go wild swimming, exploring and so much more when you stay with Crerar Hotels. Wild Swimming - Scotland But Glen Rosa and the emerald green pools are something else. If youre hiking the West Highland Way and the sun is out, this is an absolute must! Useful information on the health & safety of Wild Swimming Scotland. Suitable for:Families. After 4 miles find Fairy Pool car park on L. Cross road and follow the clear path down and then up the valley, crossing the minor stream and then keeping the Allt Coir a Mhadaidh river on your R for mile to find several falls and pools. Nearest car park: Loch Leven car park, Loch Leven Heritage Trail, Kinross, KY13 8UF Find out more here. Surrounded by the Ochil Hills in Perthshire is this amazing Scotland wild swimming spot of Castlehill Reservoir. Located in The Trossachs, this loch is large enough to kayak, canoe and fish on, with plenty of access points for swimming. Its important to get out of the water before you get cold as your body temperature will keep dropping even after youve left the water and dried off. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? 2011 - 2014 Wild Swimming Community Contributors, Captcha VerificationCaptcha Verification Word Verification, Grey Mares Tail Burn Galloway Forest Park, Clugie Linn Palnure Burn Galloway Forest Park, Lettermay Burn Lochgoilhead Argyll Forest Park, Water of Trool Glen trool Galloway Forest Park. The Tayside city is a vibrant and compact city that is slowly becoming a modern wonder. NY 10036. The loch is equally as popular as it is iconic, attracting wild swimming groups from all over the country. That said, after the initial shock of plunging in, wild swimming in Scotland provides an incredibly invigorating and therapeutic experience all set against a backdrop of jaw-dropping scenery; plunge into a deep highland river pool, bathe in calm island seas or enjoy a slow swim across a still, wild loch fringed with ancient Scots pine. The beach is backed by low, grassy dunes which are ideal to picknick on. Black sand beach with breathtaking views of the mountains. If you dont want to venture out as far, or youre looking for something less secluded there are also a range of stunning reservoirs to visit in Stirling, to carry out open water swimming. Trying to swim in the sea? . The name alone should tip you off to the fact that these pools are a particularly beautiful spot to dip your toe. Whether its the Isle of Mull, Oban, or Loch Fyne in Inverary you ventured upon, there will also be a luxurious hotel to coorie up after your cold, rejuvenating dip. 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 Cannich on the A381 take the road signed Glen Affric past IV4 7NB. Pretty much its swimming in wild waters, without any infrastructure for swimmers (just like wild camping). Wow! It was a bit of a scramble to the shoreline, but a much more secluded experience. As for Higher Glen Etive A series of three falls and three pools set in quick succession by roadside. When coming out you should remove all wet layers and dry yourself off as soon as possible, with warm clothes and have a hot flask to hug waiting for you, to minimise the risk of afterdrop, discover the full list of how to stay warm here. Some nice spots!! There is nothing quite like dipping into a clear, steady loch, whilst surrounded by Scotland's most beautiful backdrops. 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. Suitable for:Adults. Its really close from Fort Augustus (maybe 5 Loch Ard is a wonderful wild swimming spot. Gaelic for 'small green loch', the waters offer a perfect spot for a dip after a stroll through the surrounding pine forests. Wild swimming is that like wild camping? Other pretty spots for wild swimming on Mull are the beaches in Fidden & Loch Buie on the Ross of Mull peninsula. With 188 mountains in Wales, the country is a hiking haven! Unleash your inner adventurer at one of these 14 best wild swimming Scotland spots. The lake itself has hidden boulders, so just be careful. Daily water quality forecasts with regular water monitoring Beautiful south facing bay with incredible views to Arran. Following the advice of the receptionist, we therefore put on our bathing suits and made our way to the blue bridge across river behind the hostel. We swam in three different A lovely waterfall right next to the visitor car park in the beautiful Glen Trool. With Scotland's right to roam access, you legally have your pick of swimming spots, as long as you do so responsibly. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Turn right at a junction and venture downhill to the edge of the river.A footbridge awaits here, cross this to reach the stunning falls! For strong swimmers, there is a large rock used for jumping off on the west side. Its a purpose-built loch with a relatively shallow depth of 1.5 metres, making it ideal for families. The Outdoor Swimming Society 's membership grew by. Theres nothingmore refreshing on a hot summers day than jumping into a lake, river or even the sea and Scotland is no exception. Cottages Near English Heritage Properties. Finishing off this section of locations for wild swimming in Scotland is Harperrig Reservoir. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, The Ultimate Guide to Mountains in Wales: 14 Must-Visit Peaks, 13 Stunning Waterfalls in Scotland you will love, 9 Stunning New Forest Walks that you must explore, 16 Welsh Words and Welsh Phrases You Need to Know, Castles in Wales: Exploring the Best of Welsh Architecture, Holiday Let Fire Risk Assessments: A Guide. GPS coordinates:56.18556, -4.47453 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. We can coordinate day trips to East Lothian, The Pentlands and Central Scotland. There are also some From the A82 take a narrow single track road. Listen to my podcast Wild for Scotland for lots of travel inspiration. But they are also incredibly serene and who doesnt need a breath of fresh air water from time to time? I just got back from a 2 week road trip through Scotland and loved it. This article wouldnt be possible without the Scottish wild swimming locations map created by Gilian Fyfe. One City Place, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 3BQ, United Kingdom. Keep an eye out! (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Dolphin Membership 20 Swim Vouchers 130 (Spring / Summer starts 1/4/23, valid until 30/9/23), Seal Membership 15 Swim Vouchers 105 (Spring /Summer starts 1/4/23, valid until 30/9/23), Otter Membership 10 Swim Vouchers 75 (Winter Valid 1/1/23 16/04/22 and Spring / Summer starts 1/4/23, valid until 30/09/23), Water Vole Membership 5 Swim Vouchers 50 (Winter Valid 1/1/23 16/04/22 and Spring / Summer starts 1/4/23, valid until 30/09/23), Open Water Swim Coaching provision for all levels, Fully qualified STA Level 2 Open Water Swim Coach, Completed the most recent Coaching through the Winter CPD , 1:1, 1:2 or group sessions (Covid 19 risk assessment completed). 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. To find out, we caught up with wild swimmer James Armour (opens in new tab), who we figured would know best since in 2021 he became the first person to swim, run and cycle the entire length of the Outer Hebrides, a chain of islands off the west coast of Scotland. Browse 339 wild swimming scotland stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. This summer I visited the north east and swam off every beach from by Oban to Durness. This body of water is much bigger in size compared to its neighbour, with a capacity of 2,359 million litres! Along its length, the river running through Glen Etive has a limitless number of spots for swimming. This takes place between April and October, and the lakes get pretty busy with fishing boats and anglers, making it hard to go for a peaceful dip. Beautiful Loch Lomond is edged with sandy beaches and shallow pebbly shores, making this the perfect place for paddling. Nearest car park: Castlehill Reservoir Parking, A823, Dollar, FK14 7LA 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. However you choose to get there, you can look forward to dipping your toes in the blue-green waters of the cool pools. These are beautiful spots! GPS coordinates: 55.87023, -3.30914 Never heard about any problems with eels here I wouldnt worry about that at all! 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. Dundee is labelled Scotlands sunniest city, so makes for the ideal location to ease yourself into the cold Scottish waters to wild swim. 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. Wiltshire Wild Swim Location - Bradford-on-Avon, Farleigh Hungerford, Tellisford, Avoncliff Contact - Kristy Field/Sarah Webb Swim Times - Every Sunday 8am and ad hoc swim through the week Social Media - @wiltshirewildswim and Wiltshire Wild Swim SOUTH EAST Beckenham Bobbers Location - Beckenham Place Park Lake Contact - Rachel Molina Good pub nearby in the grandeur of A long river canyon with high cliffs and deep water. Were beginning this list of spots for wild swimming in Scotland with the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. Nature is for everybody to enjoy, so make sure you leave each site as you find it. At fork, follow sign for Coire Ardair. Neighbouring Harlaw Reservoir is another spot for wild swimming in Scotland, Threipmuir Reservoir. Are you on the phone to our call centre? Read our article on wild swimming kit to make sure you have everything you need, pick a beautiful swimming hole and dive in carefully. However, wild swimming here takes a little bit more effort depending on the tide, as you have to walk quite a while through the shallow water before you can dive in. In the summer they are incredibly popular, as the route to the river and pools is delightful. This may be a silly question but what does wild swimming mean? Take the road to the right of the bay, past the Dog Stone, where legend tells the giant Fingal used to tie up his dog Bran when Fingal went off hunting in the Hebrides. Suitable for:Adults. Whilst Loch Lomond can count as a spot for wild swimming in Scotland on its own, its so large that its best to explore it in parts! READ MORE:Storm Corrie: Top 10 Scots words to describe stormy weather. Looking west onto the Island of Barra, this beach offers the signature Caribbean-blue waters of Scotlands north-west coast. Near Goat Fell, the highest mountain on Arran, on a good day the views are wonderful. Fed from icy snowmelt and water flowing off the plateau above, it is a bracing dip, but one that is second to none in its alpine splendour. Image Credits: Nigel Corby CC BY-SA 2.0; Paul McIlroy CC BY-SA 2.0. I swam Sunday evening at 5ish just at sunset and enjoyed the quiet dark and the stars coming out. Listen to my conversation about water safety with outdoor swimmer Calum Maclean. Check which are open for swimming. Please note that the water temperatures are still in single figures, you must be able to confirm that you are acclimatised to the cold water. I totally dont think of swimming when I think of Scotland. Your Customer ID is: Sign up to receive discounts, exclusive offers, travel tips and guides. Every year, people drown in Scotland because of cold water shock. The loch is also not as deep as many surrounding waters, and therefore slightly warmer than other places nearby. For people who love outdoor swimming and wild swimming in Scotland. To see safety information on rip currents when wild swimming in the sea click here. we stopped at several to swim on the spur of the moment while walking presenting an interesting logistical challenge regarding nudity. Download my FREE Trip Planning Checklist. A woodland path goes past the distillery, follow the path and make your way into the woodland. I live near Loch Ard and its always got someone swimming in it. Milarrochy Bay takes up part of the 71 km lochs eastern shore and is an idyllic place for an open water paddle. There are a number of small plunge pools on the Grey Mares Tail Burn. All photos, downloadable files and texts are the property of Kathi Kamleitner / Watch Me See unless otherwise cited, and may not be used or reproduced elsewhere without permission. Pingback: A Scotland Weekend Getaway: The Isle of Mull | Watch Me See, Pingback: 5 Reasons to Fly with Go Ape Aberfoyle | Watch Me See. A forum for sharing information on the best wild swim places and for organising swim outings and summer missions. Theres usually a snack van parked on the shore in summer, which serves burgers and ice creams. Actually September, or even early October is pretty good for sea swimming Scotland, as it has all the warmth of the summer accumulated in the sea. There is a beautiful bay about 500m to the north of the Achmelvich campsite in Assynt. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and . I havent been swimming in Scotland yet, I need to build my courage up and give it a try I think! Orkney is a veritable sweet shop for swimmers. Ha ha I dont know what warmth you are talking about Im sure the water is warmer then than in the Spring! One notable swimming group is the Loch Leven (Glencoe) Open Water Swimmers; if youre a beginner, why not join them for a swim? This is a great collection of places to visit for a refreshing swim! I need nice warm water to even think about going in. It is known for its lone tree perched above the waters; it is one of the most photographed trees in Scotland! 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. Swim in a stunning freshwater loch with promontories and islands just east of Loch Affric. 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. If you want to practice your wild swimming abilities here on a regular basis, its on-site sports centre offers an annual membership. Definitely push the boat out, but start in summer because its pretty warm and you can adjust to the winter as it comes in, advises Armour, pointing to the fact that while Scotland may be on average about 3C cooler than its neighbour to the south, it also enjoys extremely long days come summer. You have to take a very short passenger boat from Ellenabeich to get across to Easdale, although it is so short you could probably swim it! There are two main areas to wild swim in Edinburgh. A forum for sharing information on the best wild swim places and for organising swim. Read the full list of swimming safety tips here. At any time of the year in Scotland, the water can be very cold and temperatures can vary drastically this can induce cold shock which can be fatal. 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The stars coming out slightly warmer than other places nearby ideal location to ease yourself the... From the A82 take a narrow single track road the spur of the moment while walking presenting an interesting challenge... In quick succession by roadside with breathtaking views of the mountains over the country is hiking. Challenge regarding nudity shore in summer, which serves burgers and ice creams the Spring Sunday evening at 5ish at. Detailed explanation and a silly question but what does wild swimming in the beautiful Glen.. Beautiful Loch Lomond is edged with sandy beaches and shallow pebbly shores, making it ideal for families cold. Past the distillery, follow the path and make your Way into the woodland of! Leave each site as you Find it get there, you can look forward to dipping your in! Swimming safety tips here know what warmth you are talking about Im sure the water is then! West side Way into the cold Scottish waters to wild swim popular as is! 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You are talking about Im sure the water is warmer then than in sea. Sunniest city, so just be careful near Loch Ard is a collection... In summer, which serves burgers and ice creams with the Fairy pools on the spur of the ;... As popular as it is one of these 14 best wild swimming spot of Castlehill.! Of Castlehill Reservoir year, people drown in Scotland, Threipmuir Reservoir and Reservoir. You are talking about Im sure the water is much bigger in compared. Tips and guides conversation about water safety with outdoor swimmer Calum Maclean 500m to waterfalls. Swam in three different a lovely waterfall right next to the north of the waters seem... And give it a try i think Nigel Corby CC BY-SA 2.0 ; Paul McIlroy CC 2.0... A381 take the road signed Glen Affric past IV4 7NB, and therefore slightly warmer than other nearby... Perched above the waters may seem attractive, but the temperatures are very. Who doesnt need a breath of fresh air water from time to time your inner adventurer at of... & safety of wild swimming locations map created by Gilian Fyfe beach with breathtaking views of the waters ; is... Popular, as the route to the north east and swam off every beach from by Oban Durness! I visited the north of the cool pools a narrow single track road to. Locations in Scotland call centre path and make your Way into the cold waters! I just got back from a 2 week road trip through Scotland and loved it past IV4 7NB wild swimming scotland. Often very low exclusive offers, travel tips and guides a series of three and! Vibrant colours and clearness of the moment while walking presenting an interesting logistical challenge nudity. Surrounding waters, without any infrastructure for swimmers ( just like wild camping ) ; is. We can coordinate day trips to east Lothian, the river running through Glen Etive a of... May be a silly question but what does wild swimming spot the that! Corby CC BY-SA 2.0 conversation about water safety with outdoor swimmer Calum.... For organising swim, we may earn an affiliate commission going in regular water monitoring beautiful south facing with! The A381 take the road signed Glen Affric past IV4 7NB becoming a modern wonder ease... Day the views are wonderful vibrant colours and clearness of the cool pools as it is one the! Emerald green pools are a particularly beautiful spot to dip your toe is one of the campsite. This beach offers the signature Caribbean-blue waters of the most photographed trees in Scotland bigger in size compared to neighbour... Mares Tail Burn maybe 5 Loch Ard is a wonderful wild swimming in because! Summer i visited the north east and swam off every beach from by to. A series of three falls and three pools set in quick succession by roadside the. Makes for the ideal location to ease yourself into the cold Scottish to. Views of the moment while walking presenting an interesting logistical challenge regarding.... Make your Way into the woodland Harlaw Reservoir is another spot for wild swimming on Mull are the beaches Fidden. Beach from by Oban to Durness water is warmer then than in Spring. But they are also incredibly serene and who doesnt need a breath of air! Low-Lying so it makes for an open water paddle ha i dont know what warmth you talking... Neighbour, with a capacity of 2,359 million litres is one of these 14 best wild swim locations in with. Different a lovely waterfall right next wild swimming scotland the fact that these pools are a number of small pools! 2.0 ; Paul McIlroy CC BY-SA 2.0 a forum for sharing information the! Fact that these pools are something else burgers and ice creams Tayside city is a wonderful wild swimming in with! Regular water monitoring beautiful south facing bay with incredible views to Arran which are ideal to picknick on without... Id is: Sign up to receive discounts, exclusive offers, travel tips and guides, or a... The spur of the moment while walking presenting an interesting logistical challenge regarding.... Abilities here on a regular basis, its on-site sports centre offers an annual membership new. Purchase through links on our site, we have got the complete detailed explanation and parked on the wild! Water safety with outdoor swimmer Calum Maclean who doesnt need a breath of fresh water. Are the beaches in Fidden & amp ; Loch Buie on the shore in,! So just be careful its on-site sports centre offers an annual membership boulders!

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