I've always been a bit of a water baby - whether it's surfing, kayaking, or just splashing around in a nice ice cold body of water. Whilst I have always thought of wild swimming as a fun thrill for warm summer days, in the past year or so that I have started to notice the mental health benefits of wild swimming.
During a stressful year at university, myself and a friend started what has now become a bit of a tradition: regular trips to North Berwick, where we don our swimming costumes and swim out into the North sea, returning to the rocks half an hour later with chattering teeth and blue lips, but huge grins and a glowing sense of achievement on a stormy Tuesday in February. Ever since that first dip, there have been many more swims there, come rain or shine, hangover or bone-bruised foot.
Whilst at first I saw these swims as a great way to escape the city and get a rush after many hours of sitting in the library (or, more precisely, sitting watching Netflix and thinking about how I should be in the library), I soon started to notice how much better I felt post-swim: the anxiety and depressed mood I often felt during the semester lessened substantially, and the cold water left me feeling breathless yet elated.
A recent study published in British Medical Journal Case Reports suggested that cold water swimming boosts mental health, and that it may help those with depression to give up their medication and lead happier lives. Cold water immersion evokes a stress response: an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate combined with the release of stress hormones. The study found that immersing yourself in water which is below fifteen degrees, even just a few times, will reduce this stress response. This crosses over to the stress response we have to daily life stressors, such as looming deadlines.
Cold water swimming also aids breath control. On a beautiful, clear-skied day in April, myself and some friends jumped into the sea at Achmelvich. We shrieked at the breathtakingly cold water, frantically straddling water, until my friend said 'If you just stop thinking about how cold you are, and focus on how beautiful it is, then you'll stop feeling cold'. And it worked! As soon as we started concentrating on the glittering turquoise water and white sand beach, our breathing slowed and the cold became a little more bearable.
I've always loved wild swimming, but noticing how much it helps boost my mood has made me fall in love with it just a little bit more. So, here are my 8 favourite places to wild swim in Scotland!
1. North Berwick
North Berwick is accessible by buses and trains from Edinburgh city centre, making it a simple and quick choice if you're pushed for time. Walk out past the Glen Golf Club along Haugh Road, and follow the footpath round past the golf course until you get down onto the beach. Depending on the tide and the time of year, you can swim or walk out to the tidal island (however, during April to July you won't be allowed onto the island due to ground nesting birds). On the far side of the island there are good rocks for jumping off, if you're feeling the need for an extra adrenaline rush! Post-swim, the Ship Inn offers delicious hot chocolates or a pint, but best of all it's dog-friendly, meaning there are lots of good boys to be patted.
2. Achmelvich Beach, Assynt
Around an hour north of Ullapool, Achmelvich beach boasts your classic West coast white sand beaches and turquoise water, even on an overcast day. The rocks to the right of the beach can be jumped off if the tide is high enough, and you can swim round to a more secluded beach just a bit further right than the rocks. There's lots to be explored at Achmelvich in addition to wild swimming - sea kayaking, hiking and cycling, just to name a few.
3. Loch Ard, Trossachs
There are so many lochs to choose from in the Trossachs, but Loch Ard will always be my favourite. It's surprisingly warm in the summer (this July I even sat drinking a tin with some friends in the water, and it was actually quite a pleasant temperature), making it good for those who aren't so keen on the mild-hypothermia aspect of wild swimming.
There's a really fun rock to jump off in Loch Ard, called Castle Rock. You can swim to it from the road-side, if you park just before the Altskeith Country House, although you're best to wear a buoyancy aid as it's about half a kilometre of swimming each way. You can also cycle to it through the forestry from Milton, just outside of Aberfoyle. Follow the forest track to 56.1803337, -4.4628394. From here, Castle Rock is only around 15 metres from the shore. There are a few trees on the island, making it prime grounds for hammock-ing.
4. Balquharn Burn, Ochil hills
You would never know that this waterfall exists unless someone shows it to you. The water flows over the rock leaving a little ledge for you to sit on behind the waterfall, and there is a waist-deep pool at the bottom for a wee dip. To get to the waterfall, park on the road up to the Marshall Plant, Alva. From here, push through the bushes up the hill until you find the fence - this is a very steep walk, but the views and waterfall are worth it, I promise! The fence will then turn down the hill towards the left - follow it down here, and you'll soon see a small reservoir. The waterfall is just at the top of the reservoir.
5. Sango Sands, Durness
We discovered this spot around 4 hours into a drive from Orkney back down to Edinburgh via the west coast part of the NC500. It was a really hot, sunny day at the end of April, and as soon as the car was parked we all ran straight for the sea, pulling off shorts and t-shirts as we ran, much to the amusement of any bystanders. If you're up in the very North of Scotland you're spoilt for choice for beautiful beaches to swim at.
6. Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye
Everyone's heard of the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye, but it's easy to see why they are so well known. Clear water lets you look down into deep pools and waterfalls gush over the rocks, all framed by the surrounding Cuillin mountains. Even those who are most resistant to the idea of wild swimming are sure to be enticed by these pools. They are a twenty minute walk away from the road in Glen Brittle, or you can hike there from the village of Sligachan.
7. Loch Etive
Loch Etive sits at the bottom of Glen Etive, which is accessible by a wiggly single track road. On the drive down, you'll be likely to see deer grazing by the road side, or maybe some soggy kayakers sending the waterfalls in the River Etive. The loch is a beautiful place to swim as you are surrounded by towering mountains on all sides, making it a truly Scottish experience.
8. Loch Dubh, Assynt
Loch Dubh is just a few miles from Achmelvich, Assynt. There is a tiny single track road which goes off to the left a few miles before Achmelvich, towards Ardroe. Park up in the car park and hop over the fence to get to the black loch. There are several good jumps off the left side of the loch, ranging from around 5 ft to about 20-30ft, depending how brave you're feeling! You can see the small jump in the picture above, where the rock sticks out on the left.
As you can also tell by the picture, the peaty water of Loch Dubh is great for washing your hair, making your locks silky soft. Just what you may need after a few sweaty days of wild camping!
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