5 Favourite Wild Swim Spots in Scotland
Wild Swimming in Scotland
Wild Swimming is a special way to explore a landscape and experience a different perspective within it. Being immersed in cold water instantly pulls you into the present moment and we find our wild swims and dips in remote locations can bring a different kind of clarity. A shift in thinking that can bring great value to your everyday existence.
All of our guided experiences include the opportunity to swim whenever possible and this year we have launched a new landscapes walks series especially dedicated to this practice ‘Wild Swim & Wander’ .
Our favourite wild swim spots in the Scottish Highlands
We really are spoilt for choice when it comes to amazing wild swimming spots in Scotland but here are a few favourites we return to time and time again.
Loch Avon, Cairngorms National Park
Loch Avon is a stunning freshwater loch set within dramatic mountain scenery of the Cairngorm Mountains. It is a remote location and a long hike is needed to reach but to be immersed in it’s crystal clear waters is well worth the effort.
The Loch was carved out by glaciers that melted over 12 000 years ago. Around its shoreline are many shingle beaches, their unique pink colour coming from the weathered granite that forms them. This is a place that has many stories to share.
Join us on our Wild Swim & Wander here in August if you’d like to discover more about this special place.
Glen Nevis & Steall Falls
Glen Nevis is a very accessible location close to Fort William. There are many opportunities to swim in the pools of the River Nevis and the dramatic waterfalls and deep channels of the Nevis Gorge.
Steall Falls is a well know waterfall in the area but the falls themselves are not great for swimming as it tumbles onto a jumble of rocks and outcrops. Well worth including a walk to the falls on any visit to this area through.
Care needs to be taken when swimming here as the water levels vary significantly and when the river is high the currents and pools can be dangerous to enter.
Our Wild Swim and Wander walks will be enjoying autumn here in early October.
Arisaig & West Coast Beaches
One of the surprise gems of the West Highlands is its stunning white sand beaches. The stretch of coastline between Arisaig and Mallaig is home to a series of wonderful inlets and beaches that offer serene places to swim in turquoise waters.
A lot of the beaches are easily accessible from the road and offer family friendly locations for swimming with sheltered bays and shallow sea. Albeit it is still important to understand the potential risks of sea swimming.
This coastline can be particularly windy even on sunny days so be sure to wrap up warm and enjoy a bracing dip surrounded in beauty. There are also great rockpools to explore and fish and chips to be had in Arisaig or Mallaig.
Beneath Ben Nevis
The North Face of Ben Nevis is one of the most dramatic landscapes found in the UK. It’s towering cliffs formed by volcanic activity hundreds of millions of years ago, exploring here cannot fail to impress.
The waterfall pools and small lochans below the cliffs are at the ‘dipping’ rather than ‘swimming’ end of the spectrum owing to their size. However, to be immersed in the mountains cold waters is a truly special experience.
We’ll be heading here in September if you’d like to join us as part of our Wild Swim & Wander adventures.
Dubh Lochan, Fersit
This one is extra special for me as it’s my home swim spot - so you’re lucky I'm sharing it. It’s a small glacial loch formed by a Kettle Hole when the ice retreated thousands of years ago.
Its name ‘Dubh’ or black comes from it’s colour owing to the deep, peaty waters. Adjacent to the road this loch is super easy to reach and as it gets deep instantly its perfect if you want to do some more serious swimming. It’s about 500m long if you want to go the distance. Or, equally if you want to just bob about and enjoy the surrounding mountain views.
The small pebble beach is a nice spot for kids to paddle and to sit about after you have enjoyed the water.
