Whether its a family day trip to the Beach Boulevard just outside the centre of Aberdeen, or an adventurous swim through the cracks of a collapsed cave at Hells Lum over Cullykhan Bay, Aberdeenshire is rich with unique rural locations, and beaches to go open water swimming. Listen to my conversation about water safety with outdoor swimmer Calum Maclean. Join my Facebook group to find inspiration for big & small adventures. With ease of access to nearby islands, and beaches, there are endless opportunities to explore Scotland in all its glory and wild swim in Scotland. 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. Backed by the cliffs of Treryn Dinas, this sandy beach has clear waters and fantastic rock formations . Orkney is a veritable sweet shop for swimmers. 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 winding reservoir from the nearby car park or via the circular walks that pass by. If youre brave enough, you will be rewarded with a relaxing bath in one of the many pools formed by the river flowing through the valley! Wild Swimming - Scotland Wild swimming is that like wild camping? These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. Weve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country. This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. The Linn Falls are situated a stones throw away from Aberlour and are a great place for open water swimming in Scotland. One of Scotland's most enchanting wild swimming spots, the crystal-clear pools lie at the foot of the dramatic Black Cuillin mountain range. Jump in or take a dook in the pool. And if you think thats a mouthful, just wait for how cold the water is! There are plenty of entry and exit points around the Loch. The surrounding views are just as extraordinary, with the peaks of Bruach na Frthe and Sgrr nan Gillean creating a stunning backdrop. Suitable for:Families. The popularity of wild swimming has exploded in recent years, with the mental health benefits being increasingly promoted by its advocates. An enchanting sight, the waterfall cascades into Loch Lomond. Daily water quality forecasts with regular water monitoring Beautiful south facing bay with incredible views to Arran. Suitable for:Adults. The Outdoor Swimming Society 's membership grew by. Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond . Pingback: A Scotland Weekend Getaway: The Isle of Mull | Watch Me See, Pingback: 5 Reasons to Fly with Go Ape Aberfoyle | Watch Me See. Take an island day trip, get involved in whale watching and explore the enchanting waterfalls on the Isle of Mull, whilst youre out seeking the perfect tranquilising wild swim. Next to a large grassy embankment which is ideal for picnics or playing sports. Lots of good entry points around the loch, with shallow water for paddling and deeper parts for more serious swimmers. Glen Etive is a winding ravine situated near the picturesque village of Glencoe. A couple of benches rest nearby, too, so you can enjoy a post-swim sit-down amongst the woodland surroundings. The Benefits of Water Wellness & 7 Water Activities to Try, 18 Fun Outdoor Activities to try in Scotland, A practical guide for snorkelling in Scotland, A Scotland Weekend Getaway: The Isle of Mull | Watch Me See, 5 Reasons to Fly with Go Ape Aberfoyle | Watch Me See. 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! 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. Do you have a favorite? New York, We swam in three different A lovely waterfall right next to the visitor car park in the beautiful Glen Trool. Beautiful Loch Lomond is edged with sandy beaches and shallow pebbly shores, making this the perfect place for paddling. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. These are beautiful spots! Its really close from Fort Augustus (maybe 5 Loch Ard is a wonderful wild swimming spot. I had spent New Years Eve in a small bothy in the middle of Glen Etive, surrounded by good friends and lots of stars and maybe a drink or two. Did you ever see any or have an encounter? Swim down the River Oude into the lake formed by the Oude Dam and you'll uncover some prime space. Large Waterfall or Gorge plunge pool nearby. There is nothing quite like dipping into a clear, steady loch, whilst surrounded by Scotlands most beautiful backdrops. I need nice warm water to even think about going in. I swam Sunday evening at 5ish just at sunset and enjoyed the quiet dark and the stars coming out. But Bryher, just 2.5 miles-long and half-a-mile wide, has the best swimming. GPS coordinates: 57.01214, -2.49052 Another astounding spot for wild swimming in Scotland is Loch Ard, located within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Loch Lubnaig Loch Lubnaig, which means elbow in Gaelic, near. Can you swim in lochan? Make sure you check for currents! On Watch Me See I share travel guides, itineraries and tons of practical tips for visiting Scotland. This stunning spot can be reached by a short walk from the sites car park or the longer, scenic Fairy Pools Walk. Swimming on Top of the World. We arrived at our hostel in the middle of the afternoon, when the sun was still standing high, burning down. There are also variables such as currents and tides which can pull you under and away from shore. Every year, people drown in Scotland because of cold water shock. 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 hope youll have an epic trip to Scotland. Loch Ard benefits from shallow areas, making it perfect for beginners and families. When it comes to places with amazing waterfalls, Scotland is hard to beat! READ MORE:Wild swimming in Scotland: The life-changing practice of cold water therapy. Whether youre considering a quick dip in a local loch or working your way up to some serious strokes in the sea, Armour has these three tips for anyone starting out with wild swimming in Scotland. It was our third day on the West Highland Way and so far the hottest. Can be very midgie-prone during summer months, so pack your Skin So Soft! 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. Listen to my podcast Wild for Scotland for lots of travel inspiration. Dundee is labelled Scotlands sunniest city, so makes for the ideal location to ease yourself into the cold Scottish waters to wild swim. Good plunge pools above falls. The annual Monster Swim event takes place here during the summer and is where expert swimmers can partake in a five-kilometre swimming race. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? There are plenty of great spots on the foreshore to camp and swim from, including a romantic sandy beach dotted with ancient tree stumps, which make great seats for sitting on around your campfire. See Facebook and Instagram at the start of March. Armour was speaking about his epic voyage at the Fort William Mountain Festival (opens in new tab) in the highland area of Lochaber, where wild swimming has been a way of life for decades, if not longer, and boasts lots of stunning wild swimming spots (opens in new tab). 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. Other pretty spots for wild swimming on Mull are the beaches in Fidden & Loch Buie on the Ross of Mull peninsula. Here's an interactive map of the 29 cleanest Scottish waters to take a dip in this summer. 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. Nearest car park: Kinlochard Car Park, Stirling, FK8 3TW You can swim across the 1km Gulf of Corryvreckan in slack water between the tides. 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. Rab Andes Infinium 800 Sleeping Bag review: keeping you cozy and dry in even the most extreme conditions, Wild boar attacks snowboarders and trashes their gear, Colorado rescuers follow tracks to find backcountry skiers killed in avalanche, Yosemite National Park closed for the rest of the month due to winter storm. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Keep an eye out! Readers can receive a 20% discount and free P&P with code calmac at Wild Things Publishing. Good pub nearby in the grandeur of A long river canyon with high cliffs and deep water. Although it may take a while to brave the cold, after the first dip, it is said that open water swimming in Scotland is a spectacular, energising and invigorating activity that has a number of impressive health benefits. Tide goes out 0.2 miles. 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. The beach stretches for twomiles, with rocky outcrops that make a suitable place to rockpool during low tide. Looks onto the Island of Eigg. This willl take you alongside River Etive until you eventually from Fort Augustus, take A82 that goes west of loch ness. 20 mins, 57.2496, -6.2547. Are you on the phone to our call centre? 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. There will be four levels of membership; Dolphin Membership - 20 Swim Vouchers - 130 (Spring / Summer starts 1/4/23, valid until 30/9/23) The beaches were magnificent over there I have only been to swim in St Andrews and it was really lovely! 1. If youre new to wild swimming in Scotland, Knockburn Loch is the place to visit! This summer I visited the north east and swam off every beach from by Oban to Durness. This is why we have created a guide on how and where to find both the most popular, and the most secluded, Scotland wild swimming spots, wherever you are in the country. Surrounded by the Ochil Hills in Perthshire is this amazing Scotland wild swimming spot of Castlehill Reservoir. From our Big Sand Beach in Gairloch, sheltered from onshore wind, with breath-taking views of Skye and Torridon, to chancing a swim with Nessie at Dores Beach which has the best viewpoints of Loch Ness. Deep, large, black plunge pool (30m) at base of Scotlands second highest Waterfall or Gorge. 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. And as an ambassador for the Outdoor Swimming. 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. Lovers of wide-open spaces will enjoy this beach, which is located near the gorgeous seaside town of Crail. Park at nearby Loch Morlich and take the 45-minute walk to the lochan. The loch is also not as deep as many surrounding waters, and therefore slightly warmer than other places nearby. One City Place, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 3BQ, United Kingdom. A hike along Glen Rosa valley is an easy alternative to huffing and puffing up Goatfell on a sunny day. . One thing to be aware of when swimming in Loch Leven is that it contains a large number of blue-green algae, so please steer clear of these! 10 of the best places for wild swimming in Scotland Wild swimming is enjoying a surge in popularity in Scotland as people seek out new experiences and the basic, invigorating joy of. Wild swimming, sometimes known as outdoor or open water swimming, is an extra special watersport in Scotland. And icy-cold it was nevertheless I jumped in three times from different heights and swam a few strokes to cool down. For a short dip, I like to wear a swim suit with neoprene gloves and socks to keep my feet and hands warm. There might not be a Nessy here, but this loch in the heart of the Cairngorms mountains offers a fantastic wild swim. From conservation village Ellenabeich, where free car park is signed at N end, cross to island by ferry and walk NW to quarries, 400m. Forget about the Faerie Pools on the Isle of Skye on a sunny day in summer, I bet you they are too crowded for a more or less elegant dip in the water. The lake itself has hidden boulders, so just be careful. . All opinions are my own. Other pretty spots for wild swimming on Mull are the beaches in Fidden & Loch Buie on the Ross of Mull peninsula. Home - SwimWild. Was it cold? 5 mins, 57.2832, -4.9280. The pool is pretty shallow, making for a family-friendly spot for a dip. 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! 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. As well as the beauty that surrounds our hotels and inns, find out why you should choose Crerar Hotels, here. Learn more about responsible tourism and "treading lightly" in nature on the Visit Scotland website. Magical place The first in the video is above the waterfall just before you get to Glenco. I just got back from a 2 week road trip through Scotland and loved it. Nearest car park: Castlehill Reservoir Parking, A823, Dollar, FK14 7LA Available to pre-order soon. To see safety information on rip currents when wild swimming in the sea click here. The water is clear and will give you a boost with lively currents you head downstream. 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! Suitable for: Families. Download my FREE Trip Planning Checklist. This 13.3km loch is surprisingly safe, despite its imposing size. The water is clear and turquoise in many spots, and the coastline offers special coves and caves to explore. Popular for wild camping. You can park at the same place Loch Goil is just west of Loch Lomond just over an hour from Glasgow. THENational has compiled a list of wild swimming spots dotted around Scotland, with something for every kind of swimmer. GPS coordinates: 55.87023, -3.30914 Once youre out of the water just dry off straight away and get to a safe place because you dont know how that delayed impact is going to hit you, urges Armour. I live near Loch Ard and its always got someone swimming in it. A very short walk to this popular waterfall and picnic spot, where the River Falloch falls in a single 10m leap. Nearest car park: Loch Leven car park, Loch Leven Heritage Trail, Kinross, KY13 8UF NY 10036. Crowds depend on the time of year you visit, but if you visit in autumn and winter, you can enjoy having the place to yourself, and the zing of the cool water. *Calls to this number will incur a charge. Are you inspired by these spots for open water swimming in Scotland? As for Higher Glen Etive A series of three falls and three pools set in quick succession by roadside. Useful information on the health & safety of Wild Swimming Scotland. Nearest car park: Inversnaid Upper Car Park, Stirling Fk8 3TU 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. If you want to turn your swim into a watersports affair, the freshwater reservoir is also great for SUPs and kayaking. THE National has compiled a list of wild swimming spots dotted around Scotland, with something for every kind of swimmer. Waulkmill Bay is one of the more sheltered areas that offer a sandy bottom and stunning swim spot. . What is e-biking, and is it right for you? Trying to swim in the sea? / A mixture of sand and rock, Seamill Beach can be reached in a train ride from Glasgow. Due to the reservoir being part of the Cairns Farm Estate, it also makes for a quiet area for a dip. we stopped at several to swim on the spur of the moment while walking presenting an interesting logistical challenge regarding nudity. is an expert in exploring British waterways for sport. where to wild swim. Parking: Park at Pendreich Car Park, around a 2 mile nature walk to Cockburn Reservoir, Parking: Parking at North Third Reservoir car park, around an 8 minute walk from swimming spot, Parking: Main Car Park available at Denny FK6 5JL, around a 36 minute walk along the reservoir away, Parking: Public car park available, 4 minute walk from beach, Parking: The Cabin at Loch Lubnaig is in the North Car Park, with take-away food and drink, with toilets is open 8.30 am-5.00pm, Parking: Available at Loch Ard Forest Car Park, at the start of an 1.5-2 hour long forest walking route, that will pass the loch, Parking: Around a 35 minute walk from the loch there is the Monachyle Mhor Hotel, Balquhidder, FK19 8PQ, where you can park and get refreshments. The water is icy cool, so pull on a wetsuit and swim out to the kelp forests which sway just beneath the surface. 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. Uncover all you need to know about wild swimming safety by reading our guide to wild swimming in the UK. Wild Swimming in Argyll and the Isles. This is a great collection of places to visit for a refreshing swim! The intimate city is surrounded with natural beauty. This article wouldnt be possible without the Scottish wild swimming locations map created by Gilian Fyfe. Reached along a sign-posted path, five minutes walk from road. South facing beach reached by dirt track from Straad. Sunday 26th March 1000 Groyn 5, Portobello. Black sand beach with breathtaking views of the mountains. Our Top Spots. For people who love outdoor swimming and wild swimming in Scotland. Stunning Wild Swimming Locations in Scotland. Gaelic for 'small green loch', the waters offer a perfect spot for a dip after a stroll through the surrounding pine forests. Which is your favourite wild swimming spot in Scotland? Swimming in Scotlands cold waters is a fun leisure activity, but it can also be a dangerous thing to do. With 188 mountains in Wales, the country is a hiking haven! 2 hours, 56.9593, -4.5677. Continue along the woodland trail, with the Spey River flowing to your right. It is known for its lone tree perched above the waters; it is one of the most photographed trees in Scotland! When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The barrier to the car park is coin-operated. Lets get that debate started! Pretty much its swimming in wild waters, without any infrastructure for swimmers (just like wild camping). 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