Castle swim

Eilen Donan Castle is on elf the most photographed buildings in Scotland. And it is easy to see why. The old castle, on a loch, hills around and there is only one stone bridge to enter it. Only one bridge ... or is there a swimming option?

Of course there is no official swimming option, but that is just the thing I see, when I stand on the side of a loch. 

We arrived late in the small village of Dornie and the castle stood proud and illuminated in the night.  After dinner in the local pub we walked to our B&B, which was located across a small bridge in the village of Ardelve. Standing on the bridge at night made me think about a small swim to cross the waterway between Loch Long and Loch Duich. 

The next morning our friendly B&B host heard about my plan, said that it was possible, but also warned me of a current which changes depending on the tide. Loch Long is connected to Loch Duich and Loch Alsh, which goes to the sea on the Scottish west Coast. I wanted at least to go in the water and give it a try. My friends dropped me off at the bridge and drove on to visit the castle. 

It wasn't the nicest weather but it gave the crossing towards the castle an even more dramatic effect. 

I swam towards the castle and stopped after a third to make some photos. That's where I noticed the mentioned current. It was going out so it carried me southbound towards the caste. What a nice floating experience! 

The light southbound current was nice, but you have to make sure to cross the waterway before the current carries you to far into the next loch. It wasn't that strong and I kept on swimming towards  the castle and around it. 

From the water I could see my friends waiting for me. 

And they took a picture from the other point of view

I flooded around some more, enjoying the view and the looks of the tourist and decided then to look for a good point to exit. Not having paid the entrance fee to the castle, I swam towards the carpark. That was rather muddy and swampy in the end. Wearing a wetsuit I felt like an alien climbing up to the carpark with all the "normal" people... 

Eilen Donan Castle, Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX, Vereinigtes Königreich

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Glenfinnan Viaduct

Did you watch the Harry Potter movies? Then you know the Hogwarts Express... In reality it is an old scottish Train called "The Jacobite" which runs from Fort William to Mallaig. It crosses the famous Glenfinnan viaduct.  Last time I visited Glenfinnan Station and walked up the hills to that spotter place... waiting for the steamtrain! I was really really anxious and didn't want to take the camera down for one second too afraid to miss it! Thank you littel sister for coming along and taking that shot!

Finally I could hear the typical sound of an approaching train and the steam appeared in the small wood. It was great! Excited as a child I jumped and waved and started to take photos. It was over to soon. On the way down it started to drizzel, but nothing could lower my spirits. After 15 minutes we arrived at Glenfinnan Station and the "Jacobite" was still there. What is so cool about steamtrains? I have no idea but I love them! As did my father. Glenfinnan Staion is a small privat museum with a shop, a sleeping car hostel and a diner car with scones and soup. Perfect! I think, I will feature it in another post...

Today I wanted to tell you about the swim. A few meters from the station is Glenfinnan Monument at Loch Shiel. From here you have a nice view on the viaduct from below. And I thought, it was a perfect place for a swim. It was not. There is a small beachy area where a dropped my stuff and changed into my wetsuit. I walked in and walked...     and walked ...  and walked...

the water wouldn't get any deeper! Finally I reached waist high water and got in, just to be in the water at least once! I came back really frustrated.
So I will forget about the swim and remember the steamtrain ;-)

Can't wait to go back and wait for the Jacobite to arrive!

You never regret a swim ....
well...

Location:

Glenfinnan just off the A380, Inverness Shire, PH37 4LT, United Kingdom

The Station is reason enough to visit or spend a night:

 http://glenfinnanstationmuseum.co.uk

Want to arrive via steamtrain?

http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/jacobite-steam-train-details.cfm

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Talisker bay

Most of my swims stories take place in the Scotland holiday in 2012. And so is this one:
Arriving on the Isle of Skye we drove to Talisker bay (yeah, where that distillery is). We had booked a room in a bunkhouse next to the water. That also meant a lot of smidges. It is really annoying, but nothing you can do about it.

I put on my wetsuit and started my small evening swim. It was great to see the sun going low in the sky and the warm light it creates. Talisker bay lay qiet and peaceful. There was one sailingboat stopping for the night. As you know, I like to have a point where to swim to. So I swam to the boat and had a nice chat with the people on board.
Coming back, my sister sat on the shore, contant aswell with the look over the bay. It was dinner time and nothing could fit more than grilled fish...

Talisker bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland

we stayed in:

http://www.theoldinnskye.co.uk/index.php?id=1



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swimmer's library at Loch Ness

During the Scotlandtrip in 2012 we passed Loch Ness one day. Of course I had read about swimspots in the wildswim book by Kate Rew.
It said to drive along the south side of the Loch, where you can find small parking spots at the river bank.
I don't know, if I stopped at the right place or if I wasn't patient enough to wait for a better spot a few miles later. There was a small space next to the road to park the car and I wanted to get into the water. That's how I decided on the spot ;-)
Getting into the wetsuit was quick, getting down into the water included careful walking over the rocks at the bank side. It was not the easiest entry, but it passes as accessable. It was August and the water was nice - at least when wearing a wetsuit. 

I call a swim a swim even when I just floated on the water. The water felt good, the weather was sunny and I was totally at peace with feeling the bouyancy of the wetsuit and being a part of the loch. Finally I turned on my belly and did some strokes. It was the first time I saw "black water". The water in the lochs is sometimes very peaty and has a brownish colour. I did some crawl strokes and watched my hand going through this strange coloured water.
Even though I know it is just a myth about the Loch Ness Monster, I felt queer in the dark water with my feet hanging down and no bottom in sight...

When I came out of the water and walked towards the car, a large bus stopped and parked next to our car. It was the "Library Leabharlann"
I thought it was a slapstick moment. Apperently there was no busstop and no one got out. Still wet from the swim I grabbed my "The History of Scotland" book to have this picture taken:
a swim-in bus-libary, what a service!

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The Old Man of Storr

The Old Man of Storr is a rock on the Isle of Skye. I saw a photo of it and knew I had to go there. I don't like long hikes, so it was perfect that I found a short tour on www.walkhighlands.co.uk.
We drove up from Portree and parked just off the A855 at the small carpark. The Old Man of Storr is famous and you will have company ;-) 

At the start ou pass through a small wood (if they didn't cut it by now...) and walk steady up. Once you are above the trees, turn around and look over the Sound of Raasay! The way up takes only about 1 hour, so take it slowly! Enjoy the view, sit down, take pictures and feel the way up is already part of the delightful swim on top...

The last part is very steep, but you see the Old Man, which is so impressive!

We were there in August and the weather was brilliant. The way up in tshirt and shorts was warm and also on top when you sit on the grass. You can walk even farer up and then you will notice at some point or around some corner a blast when the wind hits you. One step more into the wind, we all grabbed our jackets and hats! 

A meters down we could sit in the sun and enjoy a small picknick. I walked to the small lake to see how could the water was.

(is it a lake? it is small? what do you call it? A pond?)

I was warm again from the sun and the water was inviting. I took off my jacket, shorts and shoes and walked in. It was fresh, but nice and clear. I floated a little and enjoyed the feeling. Thinking about, that I had to change cloth anyway, I decided top strip in the water and skinny dip :-)
My sister had a small towel ready when I got out. It was chilly in the wind, but once dry and dressed I felt happy and pleased.
After sharing some Pick-up cookies we slowly started the descend.

You never regret a swim!

Isle of Skye, Scotland
The Old Man of Storr (off the A855)

Just have a look at google maps, it's amazing!The Old Man has it's own Facebook site with really nice photos. 

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Kerrera to Oban

My first island crossing was not planned at all.

When swimming I like to have somekind of a finish line. That's not possible in the pool, but outdoors. Of course I do like the quick dips and splashes whenever there is the oppurtunity! When you read my blog more often, you will know, that it is not about the longest swim or other superlatives. It is about spotting a nice place and going into the water.

I also like the feeling of going somewhere, even if "going" means "swimming".To swim across where other people need to walk around, is special to me. Standing at a river or at a loch I always ask my self "how far is it to the other side? is it possible?".
And that is what happend when I was standing in Oban and looked over to the small island. I hadn't planned anything. It was just a holiday with friends. I had been in some lochs along the way and was quite content with my swims and I thought I had had enough water for the holiday...

We arrived in Oban to have three relaxing days with cafes, bookshops, fresh fish and pubs. The first day my friends and I walked along the promenade and I pointed towards Kerrera, saying "you know, it is not that far... ".

They started shaking their heads before I had seriously thought about it! So I forgot about it - for the evening...
Our hostel was next to the promenade and I could see the small island from the breakfast table. The whole day I kept looking towards Kerrera. In the evening over pub dinner, I made the decision to do the swim. I think a pub is always a good place to make plans :-) 

The next day I drove with one of my friends to the small ferry landing stage. Here I changed into my wetsuit and a red swimming hat. I took excatly 2 Pound 50 change and walked barefoot to the ferry. The ferryman grinned at me when I said "one way only please".

When swimming outdoors it is important to talk to local people to get special tips or learn about risks in the water. You can argue, that talking to the ferryman is a bit late and you are right.
Nevertheless I was lucky to meet Ian the ferryman and ask him about the crossing. He normally works on the big calmac ferries and was just helping out for the day. More interesting than that was, that Ian is a lifeguard and took part in the anual Kerrara to Oban swimming event. I am looking Forward to go back and do that swim event, too!

Ian told me, that you would normally need a safety kayak to accompany the swimmer. Big ferrys enter the Sound of Kerrare from both sides on their way to the Oban harbour. It is essential to know the schedule. I was lucky, that Ian told me, if I really wanted to do the swim, he would watch out for me. Of course I took that offer and we agreed on some signs.

I went into the water next to the ferry and started swimming. The waves were only about 20 centimters high, but that is high enough, that you can't see the other side all the time. The water was salty and felt rough and I felt adventurous! There was a small current, only strong enough to drift me slightly to the north. I was happy when I reached a point which I estimated was halfway. That is the point, where turning around doesn't make sense anymore. Also I saw Ian casting off. In the water the sound of Kerrera looked bigger and I was happy, that someone with a boat was watching out for me. It was a 800m swim to the other side. Ian passed with the ferry in a wide arch around me and landed well before I came towards the shore.

The last third of the swim was the part I injoyed most. I could see the shore, could see that I would get there without any problems and so I took the time to injoy the feeling of being in the water and finishing an adventure.

Ian and my friend Alex were there to great me. I was extremly proud to climb out of the water as a Kerrera to Oban finisher!

Afterwards we met the rest of the group for a hot choclate in a very very nice cafe. We were lucky and could sit down in the big comfy sofas looking out over the Sound of Kerrera...

You never regret a swim!

A pub to make plans and a hostel with a view:
http://www.markiedans.co.uk/

http://corranhouseoban.co.uk/

The place to have your after swim hot choclate:

http://obanchocolate.co.uk/

http://thelornebaroban.co.uk/

Best fresh mussels:

Next to the ferry terminal there is a small hut, very busy with People coming off the Ferry. For a reason! Great mussels!

A very nice dinner:

http://waterfrontfishouse.co.uk/

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