Swimming Free

Since, as a child, I took my first independent swimming strokes at Clachtoll Beach, Sutherland, swimming as been part of my being.

Confined to beaches and the pool as a child, then into adulthood I plunged into mountain lochs and burns after a day’s hillwalking. This extended to swims in remote beaches and islands as I took up sea kayaking. Then COVID arrived! I soon discovered the joys of swimming in small stretches of water I can reach walking from my home.

I revelled in the freedom and the primal joy of plunging into cold water. It was through swimming I came to terms with my brother’s death, and my inability to see him beforehand or attend his funeral. It became where I found release, joy and above all had fun! Swimming is now essential to my well being.

This winter, at times, I broke thin ice on the loch as I took to the water. I like the feel of the water on my skin so only resort to the wetsuit in extreme conditions. On reflection it’s become a bit of an obsession. I love going into a remote hill loch or one of the many beaches that fringe our Highland shores.... I look for the blue on the map when planning days out on the hill. So that’s why my journey stone is a swimmer!