GPS coordinates: 57.25034, -6.25829 I hope youll have an epic trip to Scotland. In Scotland, there are currently 85 designated bathing waters. 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. THIS WEBSITE IS MANAGED BY MAREE AND IS VERY MUCH AN AMATEUR VENTURE, IF YOU CANNOT FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PLEASE EMAIL WILDSWIMSCOT@GMAIL.COM OR CALL 07971148397. Stunning gorge with rapids above and deep pools, Waterfall or Gorge and sandy cove below. Other pretty spots for wild swimming on Mull are the beaches in Fidden & Loch Buie on the Ross of Mull peninsula. 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. Unleash your inner adventurer at one of these 14 best wild swimming Scotland spots. For strong swimmers, there is a large rock used for jumping off on the west side. Save time and get one of my bulletproof Scotland itineraries. This stunning cascade rests moments away from Loch Lomond and is the perfect spot for diving. The large space means there are many opportunities to master open water swimming before trying the harder wild swimming spots in Scotland. 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. . Co-author of the new Wild Guide Scotland, Richard Gaston, shares his top 5 Scottish wild swimming locations: The water quality is often exceptional, but temperatures are very low. Orkney is a veritable sweet shop for swimmers. Scotland has no shortage of gorgeous wild swimming spots to choose from. The water is clear and turquoise in many spots, and the coastline offers special coves and caves to explore. There are plenty of entry and exit points around the Loch. The glen is fairly low-lying so it makes for an easy walk up to the waterfalls. From Cannich on the A381 take the road signed Glen Affric past IV4 7NB. Scotland might nothave the hot springs of Iceland or the sauna culture of Finland, but weve got something else: cold water that is perfect for wild swimming! by Lola Fudger-Galvez 7 Beautiful Places for Wild Swimming in Scotland. Are you inspired by these spots for open water swimming in Scotland? Some nice spots!! Advnture is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Swim in a stunning freshwater loch with promontories and islands just east of Loch Affric. Once on the island there is a series of quarry pools. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with. A dramatic glen with perfect river pools running very close to road. The loch is equally as popular as it is iconic, attracting wild swimming groups from all over the country. Loch Ness is another spot for outdoor swimming in Scotland that you have to try. 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. 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. So, take the plunge! Once youve arrived at the waterfall, look forward to diving into the depths of its pool and paddling about in this quiet, tucked-away spot. 5 mins, 58.1703, -5.3069. 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. Another astounding spot for wild swimming in Scotland is Loch Ard, located within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Are you on the phone to our call centre? From the B8009 just SE of Carbost take the turn signed Glenbrittle 400m E of IV47 8ST. Large Waterfall or Gorge plunge pool nearby. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). There are also some From the A82 take a narrow single track road. You can reach the winding reservoir from the nearby car park or via the circular walks that pass by. Bring a towel and a flask with a good warm drink for after your swim. During the summer months, Glaswegians go to any lengths to find a sunny spot so it would be rare to find these quiet. The beach is popular among local swimmers and booking a session here with a coach is a great introduction to wild swimming in Scotland. The loch offers several swimming loops between 400-800 metres. Daniel Start, author of Wild Swimming, shares his tips for taking the plunge . Which is your favourite wild swimming spot in Scotland? Nearest car park: Little Vantage car park, Unnamed Road, Kirknewton, EH27 8DJ It isnt far from the main road, and as such is popular with campers and other swimmers. If you are new to Cold Water Swimming / Dipping, you will be required to take a number of 1:1 sessions to ensure you are safe to join in our group sessions. / 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. To see safety information on rip currents when wild swimming in the sea click here. The Tayside city is a vibrant and compact city that is slowly becoming a modern wonder. When sites do not meet the desired standard, investigative work is undertaken to eliminate or lessen pollution sources. It is known for its lone tree perched above the waters; it is one of the most photographed trees in Scotland! After a steep climb up the Devils Staircase and a long descent to Kinlochleven, we were exhausted and sweaty and really needed something to cool us down. I just got back from a 2 week road trip through Scotland and loved it. Nearest car park: Threipmuir Reservoir Car Park, Mansfield Rd, Balerno, EH14 7JT Elegant white A beautiful wide gorge opening out to very large, still river pool (200m). Surrounded by the Ochil Hills in Perthshire is this amazing Scotland wild swimming spot of Castlehill Reservoir. Join my Facebook group to find inspiration for big & small adventures. 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. 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. 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. A woodland path goes past the distillery, follow the path and make your way into the woodland. If youre new to wild swimming in Scotland, Knockburn Loch is the place to visit! For people who love outdoor swimming and wild swimming in Scotland. 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. Suitable for:Adults. Wild Swimming in Argyll and the Isles. To see safety information on wild swimming in reservoirs and wild swimming in rivers, click here. Amazing locations for wild swimming in Scotland arent hard to come by, with the country offering showstopping lochs, waterfalls and natural pools in abundance! Despite being only a few hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh, it's an incredibly beautiful place, surrounded by lush . The barrier to the car park is coin-operated. Suitable for:Families. Suitable for:Families. Read our article on wild swimming kit to make sure you have everything you need, pick a beautiful swimming hole and dive in carefully. Another natural wonder in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the Falls of Falloch is a charming spot for outdoor swimming in Scotland. It was fun! Lets get that debate started! Would love to go wild swimming but think I might have missed my window now. 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. Magical old steep-sided slate quarries are now filled with Mediterranean-blue sea water, and offer a more sheltered swim on the beautiful car-free Easdale. The L-shaped pool is the usual swimming one. Considering trying wild swimming in Scotland? Stunning islanded lake, rich in original Caledonian pine. Reached along a sign-posted path, five minutes walk from road. South facing beach reached by dirt track from Straad. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing. Glen Etive is a winding ravine situated near the picturesque village of Glencoe. Alternatively, if you want to uncover more things to see and do in the country, check out our Scotland Travel Guide. 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. With the Ayrshire Coastal Path backing the beach, there are excellent views over the Firth of Clyde to the Island of Arran. Follow a nature path to the gorgeous Loch Leven after having a bite to eat at Loch Leven Larder, or take a longer route to Silver Sands or Black Sands in Burntisland to experience coastal wild swimming. 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. Im a writer, blogger and podcaster based in Glasgow. Beautiful Loch Lomond is edged with sandy beaches and shallow pebbly shores, making this the perfect place for paddling. Suitable for: Families. One of Scotlands most enchanting wild swimming spots, the crystal-clear pools lie at the foot of the dramatic Black Cuillin mountain range. If youre not sure whether a beach is suitable for swimming, its best to avoid it. 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! As long as the conditions are right, anywhere is a fantastic place for wild swimming in Scotland. Suitable for:Families. New York, Basically, its any form of swimming in places without infrastructure like changing rooms or safety features Maybe thats a British thing! Oh, I need to add that to my list! 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. A true Scottish hidden gem, Inversnaid Waterfall is a magical place for a spot of wild swimming in Scotland! Higher Glen Etive, Glencoe The archipelago is pretty flat, so you can see water for miles when travelling around. Drawing on her vast experience as a long-distance swimmer and open water swimming coach, Alice has hand-picked locations to help you experience Scotland at its wild and rugged . 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. Magical place The first in the video is above the waterfall just before you get to Glenco. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Pedn Vounder Sands, near Penzance, Cornwall. THENational has compiled a list of wild swimming spots dotted around Scotland, with something for every kind of swimmer. Make sure you have a special base to experience these from by booking one of these Scotland Holiday Cottages! The Linn Falls are situated a stones throw away from Aberlour and are a great place for open water swimming in Scotland. Sorry, no records were found. Find out more here. 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. Perfect for an afternoon dip. 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. The lake itself has hidden boulders, so just be careful. contact the editor here. Theres usually a snack van parked on the shore in summer, which serves burgers and ice creams. Roughly a quarter of the way up the loch, there is a large layby. Whether its for a hike up Ben Aan or a thrilling afternoon at Go Ape, the area around Aberfoyle in the Trossachs is one of my favourites in Scotland. 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. A great place for teaching kids (or dogs) to swim next to a small, pebbly beach. 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. 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. With options to explore the spectacular things to do in Cairngorms, including seeking the Balmoral Pyramids, or strolling along the gorgeous walks and beaches on the North-East coast, it truly is a magical part of Scotland. Explore Crerar Hotels & Inns for a luxurious escape, whilst exploring the best wild swimming Scotland has to offer. There are two main areas to wild swim in Edinburgh. From munros, waterfalls, forests, and gardens, to glens, moors and rivers where you can carry out your wild swimming, surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Loch Ard benefits from shallow areas, making it perfect for beginners and families. Its a very popular spot for visitors, with the hashtag #lochness being used over 450,000 times on Instagram! There will be four levels of membership; Dolphin Membership - 20 Swim Vouchers - 130 (Spring / Summer starts 1/4/23, valid until 30/9/23) 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. Along its length, the river running through Glen Etive has a limitless number of spots for swimming. And icy-cold it was nevertheless I jumped in three times from different heights and swam a few strokes to cool down. 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. Cottages Near English Heritage Properties. I might have missed my window now for a spot of Castlehill reservoir with the Ayrshire Coastal path backing beach... ; it is known for its lone tree perched above the Waterfall just before you get to Glenco fantastic! 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