Chances are if you’ve been near water in the UK recently, you’ll have spotted the colourful bobble hats and jubilant faces of wild swimmers. Wild swimming has had a huge surge in popularity over the past few years, especially since lockdown restrictions encouraged people to look beyond the usual ways of getting some daily exercise. In 2006 the Outdoor Swimming Society had just 300 members, last year it reported an impressive 1.3 million new visitors to its website and their membership has grown to over 187,000. The concept is not a new one though; outdoor swimming was deemed fashionable in the eighteenth century and the Victorians were keen to promote the bracing benefits of taking a dip in the sea.
What exactly is wild swimming?
So, what is wild swimming? The term basically means swimming outdoors in a natural source of water rather than a man-made structure. You could choose a spot along a river, a tranquil loch, a scenic pond, or the wide-open sea. We’re incredibly lucky to have a myriad of picturesque options for open water swimming in Kintyre and we even have slightly warmer waters along our coastline thanks to the Gulf Stream. Our favourite spot is just a short stroll from the distillery at Torrisdale Bay.
Why do people love wild swimming so much?
As well as being a refreshing way of exploring the outdoors, the physical and psychological benefits of wild swimming have been widely reported. Regular exposure to cold water, even for short periods of time, is said to help reduce pain and inflammation as well as improving circulation and boosting the immune system. Wild swimmers often report a joyful post-swim high due to a release of endorphins, the happy hormones, as well as beta-endorphin and noradrenaline, the feel-good chemicals in your brain. Recent scientific studies, including one published in the British Medical Journal, have backed these claims and shown that cold-water swimming can have a beneficial impact on our mental health. The combination of being surrounded by nature, immersing yourself in the revitalising cold as well as the social element of wild swimming means it can help with anxiety, stress and depression.
Many people state that they venture out into the water again and again just for the joy of it. One of our Directors, Emma, is a huge fan and says she “tried winter swimming a few years ago and now swim as often as I can with a fabulous group of women in our beautiful bay. It’s definitely addictive and it’s about so much more than cold water. I love the camaraderie and the laughs and the screams just as much as the shock of plunging in!”
How can I find out more?
Interested in giving wild swimming a go? We’re running a session led by expert coach Dan the Merman on 3rd June as part of our Wild Days event. It’ll be perfect for beginners as well as those with some experience but looking to improve their skills. You’ll learn some basic water safety, open water techniques and how best to recover from the bracing cold. Find out more and book you place here.
You might also find some useful hints and tips via these sites:
