I was lucky enough to see a grey Park at the Sligachan Hotel. Nearest car park: Fiddich Park & Ben Aigan Car Park, A95, Aberlour AB38 9RR Another popular swimming loch in the Trossachs is Loch Lubnaig. The beach is popular among local swimmers and booking a session here with a coach is a great introduction to wild swimming in Scotland. Its a purpose-built loch with a relatively shallow depth of 1.5 metres, making it ideal for families. Here are some of my favourite outdoor swimming spots across Scotland. If you dont know, that entailed 20 miles of treacherous open water swimming in strong tides in addition to 52 miles on foot and 112 miles on the bike. Scotland has no shortage of gorgeous wild swimming spots to choose from. BBC Scotland - Jules' and Greg's Wild Swim Home Watch now Julie Wilson Nimmo and Greg Hemphill go wild swimming. Learn more about responsible tourism and "treading lightly" in nature on the Visit Scotland website. The loch is also ideal for anyone interested in long-distance swimming as it is approximately five kilometres long. The River Orchy is a beautiful river in Glen Orchy east of Dalmally. To see safety information on wild swimming in reservoirs and wild swimming in rivers, click here. Head down the bank towards the island linked to the shore by a sandy beach with tree stumps. A medium-sized beach, with soft sand and clear water. Nearest car park: Threipmuir Reservoir Car Park, Mansfield Rd, Balerno, EH14 7JT With all that water, it makes sense that wild swimming in Scotland has caught on, except for the fact that the country is also notorious for challenging weather it averages 100 days of snow per year and no stranger to frigid winters and frequent gale force winds so we were curious to know if there are any special considerations to be taken when it comes to wild swimming in Scotland. One being the coastal beaches; Wardie Bay and Portobello Beach, where it would be a very rare sight to not see them swarmed with excited locals during the warmer months, the second being a series of reservoirs which have beautiful backdrops overlooking the capital and surrounding areas. Nearest car park: Castlehill Reservoir Parking, A823, Dollar, FK14 7LA 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. Suitable for: Families. Please refresh the page and try again. Theres usually a snack van parked on the shore in summer, which serves burgers and ice creams. Best for: Skinny dipping and sea kayaking. With 3,723KM of coastline, 23 inhabited islands, over 40 freshwater and sea lochs and several easily accessed beaches and rivers, Argyll's west coast waters are a wild swimmer's paradise. With many gorgeous beaches, all within a 30 minute drive, you will never run out of options to glide through the gorgeous Scottish waters with beautiful backdrops. 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. 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. I remember it like it was yesterday. The Isle of Arran offers many swimming spots, including both river and sea. Nearest car park: On-site parking 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. There are also islands within the loch including Innis Chonnell and Innishail. THE National has compiled a list of wild swimming spots dotted around Scotland, with something for every kind of swimmer. Loch Ard benefits from shallow areas, making it perfect for beginners and families. (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). Despite being only a few hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh, it's an incredibly beautiful place, surrounded by lush . The L-shaped pool is the usual swimming one. Parking: Free parking is available in the nearby village, Parking: Located next to a large public car park, Parking: Parking area available near the marina, Parking: Public car park next to the beach. Basically, its any form of swimming in places without infrastructure like changing rooms or safety features Maybe thats a British thing! 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. Nearest car park: Car Park, Stirling, Crianlarich, FK20 8RX After snapping a picture or two of the tree, you can look forward to wading into the shallow waters of the bay and enjoying a refreshing dip. Parking: Various public car parks scattered across city, Parking: Car park, with public toilets, around a 15 minute walk from beach, Parking: Public parking available at Market Square Car Park, very close to beach, Parking: Public car park available around 5 minute walk from the beach, Parking: Public car next to Cullykhan Bay. Comments have been closed on this article. Were beginning this list of spots for wild swimming in Scotland with the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. Beautiful Loch Lomond is edged with sandy beaches and shallow pebbly shores, making this the perfect place for paddling. A forum for sharing information on the best wild swim places and for organising swim outings and summer missions. This means that in popular swimming spots like Loch Lomond, you can enjoy water temperatures of around 15C/59F in the middle of summer and slowly adapt to the cooling temperatures which will fall to a chilly 11C/52F in the autumn before reaching a frigid 5C/41F come winter. Nearest car park: Loch Leven car park, Loch Leven Heritage Trail, Kinross, KY13 8UF Swim in a stunning freshwater loch with promontories and islands just east of Loch Affric. After paddling in the cool waters, be sure to settle down on the nearby picnic benches and soak up the calming sounds of the waterfall. Are you inspired by these spots for open water swimming in Scotland? James Armour is 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, Scotland is notorious for challenging weather it averages 100 days of snow per year and is no stranger to frigid winters and frequent gale force winds, Not only is summer more tolerable, it means that you can consider starting out with wild swimming without purchasing pricey gear like a wetsuit, Afterdrop is the name given to a phenomenon where youll actually be at your coldest about 10 minutes after you exit the water, You can drastically reduce the risks of wild swimming by ensuring there is someone with you who can assist you if you get into trouble, Scotland has an abundance of gorgeous wild swimming spots to choose from. The craze of wild swimming, or as others call it simply swimming outside, has made a huge splash across . This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's All within a 30 minute journey by car or bike, you could glide along the colourful waters of the east coast. Loch Ard benefits from shallow areas, making it perfect for beginners and families. Roughly a quarter of the way up the loch, there is a large layby. 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! Daily water quality forecasts with regular water monitoring Beautiful south facing bay with incredible views to Arran. From Cannich on the A381 take the road signed Glen Affric past IV4 7NB. Thanks for sharing so many of your favourite spots!! Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. You might also like: 18 Fun Outdoor Activities to try in Scotland, There are beaches in Scotland, where the ocean looks more like the Caribbean than the North Atlantic. Parking: Available at Tentsmuir Forest car park, near beach, Parking: Paid high street parking available near beach, Parking: Available at the Arbroath end of the beach, Parking: Free parking and toilet facilities nearby, Parking: Available next to the beach, off South Street. Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who arent really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. Nearest car park: Inversnaid Upper Car Park, Stirling Fk8 3TU Its a very popular spot for visitors, with the hashtag #lochness being used over 450,000 times on Instagram! I swam Sunday evening at 5ish just at sunset and enjoyed the quiet dark and the stars coming out. Dramatic Waterfall or Gorge gorge and numerous pools on route up to Bla Bheinn. This may be a silly question but what does wild swimming mean? New Cottages - Just Added To The Website! Advnture is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. There might not be a Nessy here, but this loch in the heart of the Cairngorms mountains offers a fantastic wild swim. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. A Gannett Company. The loch is also not as deep as many surrounding waters, and therefore slightly warmer than other places nearby. The waters of Scotland be in the North Atlantic sea or the rivers and lakes fed by mountain springs, rain water and snow melt can be freezing cold. Some nice spots!! It is time to head north once again as we explore our favourite place in Scotland in search of the best wild swimming spot that we can find in Glencoe! I went to Mull in April and it was definitely not a time for swimming haha but if wed been lucky maybe I would have tried! Wild Swimming in Scotland. I guess I mostly just thought about wilderness and hiking. HP10 9TY. In English English and Hiberno-English, the anglicised spelling lough is commonly found in place names; in Lowland Scots and Scottish English, the spelling "loch" is always used. Wild swimming, or open water swimming, in Scotland has become a popular watersport in recent years amongst the Scottish population. The lake itself has hidden boulders, so just be careful. WILD SWIMMING ON A TINY SCOTTISH ISLAND | chilly skinny-dipping in a 'tropical' paradise - YouTube 0:00 / 9:35 WILD SWIMMING ON A TINY SCOTTISH ISLAND | chilly skinny-dipping in a. 5 mins, 57.2832, -4.9280. It was our third day on the West Highland Way and so far the hottest. Britains longest lake and home to the Loch Ness Monster. The beaches were magnificent over there I have only been to swim in St Andrews and it was really lovely! View Privacy Policy. We can coordinate day trips to East Lothian, The Pentlands and Central Scotland. With the unique culture, dramatic landscapes, fascinating history and enchanting castles, it really is the best backdrop to your wild swimming in Scotland. 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. Most locations will be quiet, secluded and peaceful. Nearest car park: Little Vantage car park, Unnamed Road, Kirknewton, EH27 8DJ Paddleboarders can often be seen here. But there is nothing better than a jump in some fresh cold water after a long day of hiking and these spots look perfect! Admittedly, a hot day in Scotland might still make some of you reach for your jackets, but if you are the adventurous kind, you might want to reconsider. 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. It's the longest loch in Scotland at 25 miles. Home - SwimWild. Alternatively, if you want to uncover more things to see and do in the country, check out our Scotland Travel Guide. However you choose to get there, you can look forward to dipping your toes in the blue-green waters of the cool pools. If the water is still too cold for you, there are also many hiking trails to viewpoints around the loch! 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. 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. Keep an eye out! Available to pre-order soon. I need nice warm water to even think about going in. The swimming spot can be reached by a short walk that begins at the nearby car park and takes you through trees, where you can enjoy glimpses of the River Falloch. If youre out adventuring for the day we have also provided a full list of the best walking and hiking spots in Aberdeenshire. A forum for sharing information on the best wild swim places and for organising swim. Ganavan Sands is a sandy beach just outside of Oban. Off the A816 S of Oban, follow B844 to Seil and Easdale (PA34 4TB). SwimWild is all about having fun and building confidence and skills in open water in breathtakingly beautiful parts of Scotland's Highlands & Islands. Loch Ness is another spot for outdoor swimming in Scotland that you have to try. 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. And as an ambassador for the Outdoor Swimming Society, and crowdsourced swim map. This stunning cascade rests moments away from Loch Lomond and is the perfect spot for diving. In this wild swimming in Scotland guide, Loch Leven is one of the most stunning sights! I hope youll have an epic trip to Scotland. Here, it means gliding into a still loch in the shadows of Munros and castles, or slipping straight into the salty seas of the Atlantic Ocean or North Sea. Will swimming has never been more popular, with plenty of people taking up the often-bracing activity . And icy-cold it was nevertheless I jumped in three times from different heights and swam a few strokes to cool down. Aka normal swimming/camping before there were tons of people everywhere No but seriously these places look stunning and I love your costume! Nature is for everybody to enjoy, so make sure you leave each site as you find it. 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. GPS coordinates: 55.862, -3.31768 Download my FREE Trip Planning Checklist. Nearest car park: Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye IV47 8TA we stopped at several to swim on the spur of the moment while walking presenting an interesting logistical challenge regarding nudity. A relatively shallow depth of 1.5 metres, making it ideal for families the Scottish population not..., follow B844 to Seil and Easdale ( PA34 4TB ) and peaceful rooms. 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