How it all began

Loch Doon where it all began
can you see us?


At the ripe old age of 55 I thought I would never swim in the sea again. So thought I had better get on and do it. Bundled hubby into the car and off we went to Maidens beach, fairly near home here in south west Scotland. After a ten minute dip I was ecstatic and proud and continued going for occasional wee sea swims that summer.





Loch Lomond - a new adventure



Then one day, the world of swimming possibilities was revealed. We went for a walk and a cuppa as we often did at Loch Doon, near home.


We actually used to live at Loch Doon, eight miles up a single track road and ran what was probably the most remote cafe in Scotland at the time. And I used to swim in Loch Doon a bit. We cleared the loch side beach next to the house of forty years of accumulated rubbish and it became our secret beach.



Loch Ettrick. A favourite spot with the Sou Westers...

So what the heck had happened? Do we develop a perception of the outdoors and getting cold and wet being dangerous as we pass through life? In my growing up family we seemed to spend most of the time being cold and wet, it was a thing and I joked about my Dad's catch phrase 'its only a bit of rain' at his funeral. The place erupted, as he was famous for taking us on walks when the torrential rain never let up.



One time, at Aviemore the path became a raging torrent and we had to improvise with a Walkers Shortbread tartan carrier bag as a coat for our miniature poodle. Who looked so cute he turned out to be out ticket to a seat by the fire at The Boat of Garten hotel.

Anyway, on this fateful day at Loch Doon I started chatting to three people who told me they had just been for a swim. How far? I asked. About 1km they replied. Whaaat?! I had always done a few yards back and forth staying in depth and never even knew this was a thing. Within the hour I had joined the suggested Wild West Swimmers Facebook group and knew what a tow float was. And so it all began.



Little did I know it but life would never be the same again. This would lead to a radical lifestyle change and eventually a move to the seaside. It would see me through a big health challenge, cause me to meet wonderful people who would otherwise never be in my life and often cause me to wonder what exactly I did all the time before swimming.