Wild Swimming Holiday on Scotland’s West Coast

Meeting Time: from 10am - please see Pickup options below.

Pickups (Day 1): When booking you can let us know which of the two Pickup locations below you’d like to be collected from.

Glasgow City Centre (Hotel) 10am at the ibis Styles, Glasgow Central, 116 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 7DN. Please note: a discount code for this hotel is available if you plan to stay in Glasgow the night before/after the trip - details will be shown on your booking confirmation email.
Glasgow International Airport 10:15am at the Pick-up & Drop-off area located outside the main terminal building in Car Park 2.

Returning to Glasgow (Day 6): We aim to be back in Glasgow around 5pm and can drop you back in the city centre or at the airport. Please book onward travel accordingly, to allow for flexibility with the return time to the city centre or airport - we do allow for some stops on the journey, but we (sadly!) can’t control the traffic.

We will stay at a couple of different hostels on this trip, as we move around the Scottish Highlands and explore the Isle of Skye.

Bedding is provided - but please bring a towel (as well as a separate swim towel) and don’t forget your own toiletries.

Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (shared bathroom)

Rooms at the hostels we’ll stay at are mainly Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - usually with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). There are also some Twin Rooms - usually with bunk beds - which sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).

Please see our Wild Swimming Kit List.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.

Although you will need to be a confident swimmer, you do not need to be long-distance swimmer by any means. You do not need to have prior experience of wild or outdoor swimming.

We are not aiming to swim miles, instead enjoying a greater number of more leisurely wild swims, where you can really take in the views and scenery and appreciate being immersed in the natural world. We will not be heading into open water.

If you want to sit a swim out as well your more than welcome to stay in the minibus or enjoy the local scenery whilst we swim.

Included:

• Pickup service from Glasgow - see the Meeting Location & Time section above - and transportation for the duration of the trip.

• 5 nights’ hostel accommodation.

• A Large Outdoors host/wild swimming guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.

• 6 days of guided dips and swims as we travel through the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye.

• A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

• A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Days 2-5.

• Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

• Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

• The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

• Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

Not Included:

• Travel to and from the meeting location.

• Wetsuit hire - you must bring your own!

• Dinner each evening - we’ll book a table at a local restaurant to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.

• Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

• Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

• Alcoholic drinks - there will be opportunities to pick up some local tipples if desired.

• Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

• Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

• What level of fitness is needed?
You’ll need to be a confident swimmer, but outdoor swimming experience is not required. There will be some walking too, to get to our swim spots from where we park - the ground we cover here may be uneven with some slippery/rocky parts.

• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian, vegan, provide meals with gluten free ingredients* and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

• What transport is provided during this trip?
We offer a Pickup service (see Meeting Location & Time section above) and transport throughout, with transfers from the accommodation to the activity start points and back.

• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog on an experience, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.