3 night Dip & Chill 8 – 11 March 2024
Our 3 night Dip & Chill Retreat is about detoxing from everyday life and reconnecting with nature. The only level of swimming experience you need is an ability to tread water. Our dips are timed around sunrise and sunset (time and tides allowing) in rivers, lochs, fairy pools and the sea. The waters in the Inner Hebrides are clean, crystal clear and teeming with marine life. Underwater kelp forests, epic waterfalls and curious seals provide a unique and wonderful experience. There is no need to wear a wetsuit for our dips as we are not in the water for long periods of time. If you would like to challenge yourself to do a longer swim while you are here we can arrange that. We would advise wetsuits for longer swims.
5 night Guided Swim Trek 14 – 19 May 2024
Our 5 night Guided Swim Retreats are aimed at intermediate/advanced level swimmers and include longer, more challenging swims in and around the islands of Mull & Iona. We’ll be doing between 2k and 4k a day sometimes split over two swims (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). The waters up here are warmed by the Gulf Stream but wetsuits are advised for longer swims. All of our swim spots are off the beaten track so we advise sturdy footwear and/or swim shoes.
Our swims are not about speed, or distance necessarily, and are more about challenging ourselves to explore and swim in beautiful wild surroundings. Stroke analysis and open water skills coaching are available all week to those who would like to fine tune their swimming.
5 night Beginners Open Water Development 24 – 29 Sept 2024
This retreat requires an ability to swim eight lengths of a 25m pool without stopping. Breaststroke is fine. We do two swims a day building confidence in open water, learning new skills and enjoying stunning surroundings. The waters are warmed by the Gulf Stream but wetsuits are advised as we spend about an hour in the water. Some of our swim spots are off the beaten track and require a scramble over uneven terrain to get there so you should have a certain level of fitness and a love of adventure!
Activities
These include a visit to the serene and spiritual island of Iona, the birthplace of Christianity and burial place of 48 Scottish Kings including MacBeth; a boat trip to Fingal’s Cave, one of Staffa’s spectacular sea caves immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebrides Overture and to Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles, to see the puffins in their nesting grounds before they fly off to sea for the winter; a trip to the island’s capital Tobermory to see its iconic multicoloured houses – arguably one of the prettiest harbours you’ll ever see; yoga, massage and just kicking back and relaxing in the wood-fired hot tub.
Accommodation
Achaban House in Fionnphort is full of historic character, contemporary comfort and style and sleeps 14 guests in 6 bedrooms each with a private bathroom. A wood fired hot tub sits in the south facing garden overlooking Loch Pottie. Our private chef provides all in house catering using produce grown locally and on the Isle of Iona.
Prices
Share in a 5 bed: £895 (3 nights); £1425 (5 nights)
Share of a twin/double: £945 (3 nights); £1495 (5 nights)
Single: £995 (3 nights); £1595 (5 nights)
Prices include: Transfers from and to the ferry terminal at Craignure on the Isle of Mull; all meals and wine at Achaban House, yoga, massage, a tour of Iona and open water skills and stroke technique coaching.
To book and for more information please visit: www.wildhebrideanswimming.com or contact Emma via email: [email protected] or mobile: 07770 483 063.
