The ancient waters of Scotland have been calling to swimmers for centuries, their restorative powers recognised long before the modern wild swimming movement took hold. Today, as we witness a remarkable renaissance in open water swimming, we’re rediscovering what our Victorian ancestors knew instinctively — that immersion in Scotland’s pristine waters offers profound healing for […]
This one had been in the diary for a while. With busy schedules, it can feel almost impossible to carve out a whole day with friends — but we did it. The plan was simple: three swims, plenty of laughs, and a day full of adventure. Our north star for the day was Loch Morlich. […]
For water lovers Scotland is a dream with fresh water lochs at every turn. More than 30,000 of them, in fact — some little lochans tucked up neatly in the middle of a forest, others vast and world-famous. Together they form a glittering patchwork across the landscape, from limestone-sparkling marl lakes to brown-stained dubh lochans […]
So, I’m off on a wild swimming adventure. I’m excited. Really excited. So excited that I’ve now checked the weather about twelve times… and yes, I know it’s Scotland, so it’ll probably change twelve more times before I even zip my bag shut. Packing is now a full-body sport. I’ve laid everything out neatly, then messily, […]
10 Lochs in 2 Days: A Trossachs Wild Swim Challenge We gathered on day one, a band of swimmers fuelled by excitement, nerves and the love for wild dipping – all of us were primed and ready to take on the 10 Loch Challenge. Ten lochs. Two days. Countless memories. We piled into cars and […]
Orkney Wild Swim Adventure: Sea, Sun & Soul in the Far North Sometimes, the magic of a wild swim lies not just in the water, but in the people you share it with—and Orkney offered us both in abundance. Our journey began in Kirkwall, where a purposefully small, wonderfully varied group of swimmers came together […]
The River Tweed, winding its way through the Scottish Borders, has long been a vital artery for trade, industry, and cultural development. From the days of the Romans to the Victorian era and the Industrial Revolution, the Tweed has played an essential role in shaping the region’s identity. Its waters have powered mills, tanned leather, […]
31st July 2021 – Birgham to Norham (20km) We had finished our previous swim in Carham in England, but with Birgham a village in the Scottish Borders being based on the opposite bank it was too great an opportunity to miss starting our days swimming from our last Scottish starting point. Again, with the Border […]
28th July 2021 –Kelso to Carham (9.9km) Jane and I met on the riverbank early afternoon to undertake the fifth stage of our adventure on the river which was a half day affair to help shorten the last leg of the swim into Berwick (day seven). We were wished well on our journey after an […]
24th July 2021 –Yair to Dryburgh (20.19km stretch) The day dawned on day 3 of our Tweed Challenge. It was an incredibly exciting day for me as I’d be swimming in water I was very familiar with, passing Galashiels my hometown. It was going to be another warm weekend so revelled in the fact that […]
