Dive In - Wild Swimming in Scotland

When planning how we were going to celebrate Wild Scotland this month, both Anna and I instantly went straight to Wild Swimming, so today I am here to share with you our love for diving into the Scottish seas. From a quick dip to a longer dook wild swimming is a fantastic way to take in some of Scotland's most spectacular vistas from a different viewpoint.

My first Open Water experience was the Great North Swim in 2013, my dad asked me if I'd be interested in joining him for the 1mile swim, knowing that I'd always been a bit of a water baby. The swim itself took place the day after I graduated from University so my focus really wasn't on training and as I entered Lake Windermere, wearing a wetsuit for the first time, I suddenly realised how unprepared I really was. Getting used to a wetsuit, the cold & dark water all for the first time at an event like that wasn't the best idea I've ever had but despite feeling overwhelmed initially I still loved the experience and ever since have continued to explore the world of Wild Swimming. When I started at ScotlandShop it quickly became apparent that Anna was also a huge fan, having entered many a triathlon in the past. I've never taken her up on offers to go running or cycling but swimming is a different story! In 2018 we even headed to the Great Scottish Swim in the tartan van to take on Loch Lomond and there are plans afoot to conquer Loch Tay this Autumn.

The Mythical Origins of Open Water Swimming

So where did the idea of taking to the open water come about? Well, the modern age of open water swimming is surprisingly linked to Lord Byron, who on the 3rd May 1810 swam several miles to cross Hellespont, between Europe and Asia, the story goes back much further than this though and in fact, originates in Greek mythology. Leander, a young man from the ancient city of Adydos fell in love with Hero, a priestess from a tower in Sestos on the European side of the straight. Every night he would swim across the Hellespont to be with her, using a lamp at the top of Hero's tower to guide his way. One winter evening a strong wind blew out Hero's light resulting in Leander losing his way and sadly drowning. Hero is said to have then thrown herself over the edge of the tower to be with him, which is quite the horrific tale but I hear their bodies were then washed up on shore together in an eternal embrace so that's a slightly nicer ending!

Today Leander's story continues with the World's Oldest Swim recognised by the iconic 'Victory Day' race across the same stretch of water, which sees one of the world's busiest shipping lanes being closed for the day to allow open water swimmers around the world to compete. The race is definitely on my bucket list but I think I'll need quite a bit more training before I sign up!

Best selling books such as Kate Rew & Dominick Tyler's Wild Swim and Roger Deakin's Waterlog are said to have contributed to the sport's popularity (I also personally recommend Lisa Congdon's book, The Joy of Swimming: A Celebration of Our Love for Getting in the Water, which is filled with beautiful illustrations, stories & facts) and this combined with events like the Great Swim series within the UK, the introduction of a 10 km open water swimming at the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics and the FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup have all lead to global interest in getting outside and giving wild swimming a go! Of course, you don't have to become an elite swimmer to enjoy the sport, you can simply dip, dook, or swim as much or as little as you like.

What you need to Get Started

One of the best things about wild swimming is that you need very little to get started. A swimming costume & towel are enough to get you going and to be perfectly honest it is possible to swim without any kit at all, but saying that there are a few things I'd recommend that will only add to your experience.

• A Towel robe makes it a bit easier to keep your modesty as you get changed on the beach, you can also go all out with a Dry Robe Jacket (lined with towelling) which Anna was delighted to receive as a birthday gift earlier in the week.
• A good pair of goggles helps if you are brave enough to put your face in the water
• Water Shoes / Swimming Socks come in a variety of forms and are great for protecting your feet from rocks both in the water and out.
• A Waterproof Bag is ideal for keeping your valuables safe. You can even get tow floats that act as both a safety buoy and a dry bag.
• Extra Layers to wrap up in when you get out of the water are a must in Scotland!
• A Flask with your favourite hot drink is also a good idea, plus it's nice to have something to look forward to. Anna makes a lovely lemon & honey drink which I'll need to get the recipe for!

To Wetsuit, or not to Wetsuit? That is the question

If you new to the wild world of outdoor swimming then this is certainly something you'll have been pondering. Now, there's no correct answer here, and my advice would be to choose to swim however you feel most comfortable. For obvious reasons, you feel less exposed when wearing a wetsuit but it is a very different experience and one that takes a bit of time to get used to. When I first started out I always wore my wetsuit but more recently I've started to leave it at home more often and brave the sea in my cossie and I have to say, I haven't missed it when I've gone without. Yes, the initial shock of the cold water is more intense but you acclimatise quickly.

Cold Water Immersion has its benefits!

In recent years there have been a number of reports created, all highlighting both the physical and mental benefits of Cold Water Immersion. I am not a medical expert but I recently spoke with Maree Rudd, founder of Wild Swim Scotland who shared with us just a few of the physical benefits of taking a plunge into those icy waves!

• It stimulates your “fight or flight” response by releasing adrenaline, glucose, and fats into your body in a way that can be controlled, structured and progressive.
• In turn, this then releases cortisol, a stress hormone, which ensures your body maintains this state for a number of hours, burning calories, providing pain relief, and giving you a “post-swim high” all of this helps to kick start the immune system too.
• The cold water reduces inflammation, providing relief from physical pain.
• It provides a great excuse for a cake and a warm drink afterwards as you take in the beautiful scenery around you!

Where to Wild Swim in Scotland

Whether you live in Scotland or are planning your next Caledonian adventure then I strongly encourage you to give Wild Swimming a go. Scotland is a fantastic place to get started, with a huge variety of rivers, lochs, and coastline, none of which you'll ever be too far from. I could list 100 places to visit quite easily but I've enlisted the help of some fellow swimming enthusiasts to share their favourite spots with us.

Loch Nubnaig

Hero and Leander

Loch Nubnaig

Barbara Clark, Head of Corporate Communications at Visit Scotland took up wild swimming during lockdown and has fallen in love with Loch Lubnaig within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, it lies between Ben Ledi and Ben Vorlich which provide the spectacular backdrop Barbara enjoys so much. Just a few miles out of Callander the loch is quite unique in that it runs north to south meaning it's a bit more sheltered than many others affected by wind blowing from west to east. Lùbnaig means crooked in Gaelic and if you take a look on a map you'll see just why it gained this name.

Coldingham Bay

When I asked Anna about her favourite place to swim she was definitely torn between Loch Tay which she described as having "tasty water" and a very fresh feel, and our local beach of choice, Coldingham Bay. Just 15 miles from ScotlandShop HQ, we've really appreciated having such a picturesque beach so close to home over the last year, and popping down to the bay to jump about in the waves has become a bit of a routine over the weekend.

Anna also loves a spontaneous splash and has been known to stop off for a quick dip on her way home from our Edinburgh Store or even Lake Michigan when we host our Chicago Pop-Up Store. If you like to combine running with swimming then you can read all about her adventures from a few years ago in the Loch Gu Loch Swimrun event....quite the challenge but from the 5 am start in Loch Ness just below Urquhart Castle to the end the scenery was quite magnificent and well worth the pain she assured us.

The Fairy Pools

I don't think anyone can write about Wild Swimming in Scotland and not mention the Fairly Pools. Like Anna, I have a soft spot for Coldingham but visiting the Fairy pools for the first time in September was a magical experience. To get to the pools you walk a gravel path, heading uphill over river crossings and rocks, surrounded by beautiful heather all heading towards the base of the Cullin Mountains. The River Brittle runs down off the mountains, carving its way through the glen, and along the way, a number of waterfalls and pools of crystal clear water have formed. The pools all vary in size and depth so you are free to choose the perfect spot for you, be prepared to do a bit of clambering, but trust me, it's worth the effort!

Find out all about the legend of the selkies bathing in the fairy pools and its link to Clan MacLeod in our Staycation Story: Over the Sea to Skye.

Tartan Swimwear

Given Anna's love for swimming, it makes total sense that for a short time in the early 2000s tartan swimwear made an appearance in the ScotlandShop collection. Our multi-talented former colleague and triathlete Jenny was also our in-house model at the time and modeled the collection down at Coldingham Bay. I hear that at the time this gained a fair bit of local press coverage so thank you Jenny for braving the cold to promote the bikinis! Maybe you'd like to see the return of the Buchanan Bikini's in the future? Do let us know.