Wild Swimming Scotland

A May Day at the Beach at Gullane

Driving through the Pentlands towards Edinburgh, then just outside of North Berwick (which has great fish & chips, seafood chowder sakes and wine shops— as well as bring a good swimming beach itself but right in town) to the dunes at Yellowcraig—in our dry robes, bathing suits, hot tea and bright cashmere cap (knit by local Peebles sweater source Fiona Potter, she makes her own yarn dyed with natural dyes) we are excited to see what a wild cold water swim experience at Gullane Beach would bring.

Led by instructor Maree Rudd of Wild Swim Scotland wildswimscot@gmail.com along with a lovely group of mostly women— the meeting amongst the dunes at low tide begins with some important information on staying safe, keeping warm and the mental wellness and physical improvements cold water wild swimming brings. One of the groups of cold water swimmers call themselves the Menopausal Mermaids.

I grew up swimming, not only during years on swim team in chlorine filled pools but also in the Guadeloupe River, Barton Springs and in more lakes, rivers and natural pools than I can remember the names of—but rarely until this year did I swim in open water in the ocean or sea. Irish Sea swimming and Scottish coastal freezing waters did not appeal. I love swimming in the Mediterranean and the rivers and lakes of Languedoc but freezing seas in winter? With waves, seaweed and numerous seals?

Today’s swim lasted max fifteen minutes.
The waves and seaweed led to…more waves and seaweed. But the sun was out and the sky blue and a picnic table of Italian goodies and marshmallows over an open fire waited as a prize once we dried off…I did not swim all the way out to the buoys as some did. But I was pleased that I went into deeper water and allowed bigger waves to crash against me hardly noticing the cold. I wore a one piece, gloves and booties and a hat. A thermos each of tea was a welcome treat.

The group of mostly women were naturally sporty one even a Telemark instructor another a physiotherapist married to the coach of the Norwegian ski team and our lovely instructor, an open water coach who had all the gloves booties whistles and gear in case you forgot something. The Scottish Italian foodie had brought the nibbles.

Although some of us had only met for the first time at the beach that morning, we quickly began talking about our wild cold water swim experiences, asking and giving advice—longing to try new locations, reminding ourselves not to stay in too long as muscles become weary and a strange kind of numb warmth can lead to dangerous conditions. It was just right. No one had a bad experience and everyone felt energized. The food and comradery replaced what many of us had been missing during lockdown.

We’ll be back to Gullane—to camp next time and swim with our three pups. Dog friendly beaches abound in Scotland. And the sea beckons. Nature heals…always. There is no single season for a swim. This in itself opens up so many possibilities…I keep thinking about winter swimming in Croatia in our future and plunges an icy Lac Leman…

Ah…don’t forget a dry robe and a warm hat and thermos of tea and a big happy smile of accomplishment…