Winter swimming Retreat in the Cairngorms with SwimWild

I made it on to the mainland in January although I had come a day early just in case.  Good thing as the ferry was cancelled the next day.  I spent the night at the Boat Country Inn in Boat of Garten.  Very comfortable and the food was delicious.  Little did I know that the food on the retreat would surpass it.  I took a walk in the morning as I didn't have to be at Inshriach House, near Aviemore until 11.30am.

love derelict buildings

Arrived first but the rest of the group followed soon after.  We were welcomed by Alice, owner of SwimWild (swimwilduk.com) and her guides Becca and Linda.  There were 11 of us, Jenny, Karen, Jo, Clare, Hermione, Andy, Fay, Kirsty, Sarah and Mia.  After a lovely lunch (soup and veggie haggis rolls) we were off to our first dip in Loch Morlich.  

Alice

my legs

Becca our guide and photographer

The next morning after a filling breakfast we went to Loch Insh.  For some reason I didn't make any images there.  In the afternoon after soup and sandwiches we went to Loch Alvie and had a sauna and dip.

walking to the sauna

500th swim

On Saturday it was a walk to Lochan Uaine (little green loch but known as Fairy Loch).  Our first ice loch in beautiful scenery.  In the afternoon we were at Loch Garten for more ice.  Then a walk over to Loch Mallachie to get warm.

walking to Lochan an Uaine

tattoo art

through the ice

Our last dip on Sunday morning was at Loch an Eilean.  A few of us skinny dipped but as I came out of the water, a group of tourists from Rabbies walked by.  Well at least they will have something to talk about.  We finished off the retreat with a fabulous roast dinner cooked, as all our food was, by the wonderful Pauline.

curry night 

Roast lamb with all the trimmings

Sit in the kitchen and watch the red squirrels

I drove off to Ullapool after shopping in Inverness feeling relaxed.  Such a great weekend with good company.  I will definitely be booking again.  I did book a swim tour in May with Linda who runs Take to the Water (taketothewater.co.uk).  A few more trips before then.

Next trip to Seville with the harem.

RPS Visual Art Autumn weekend in Norwich

 I decided to drive down to Norwich and camp on the way.  It gave me a chance to visit Yorkshire Sculpture Park which I missed due to weather last year.  Also popped into WWT Welney which is the only WWT centre I haven't visited on the mainland.  Northern Ireland WWT is still to be visited.  I had 6 days camping in Cromer with my friends Linda, Pete and dog Tetley before the weekend.

First campsite was Yellowcraigs near North Berwick.  Onto Bridlington the next day and then to Sutton on Sea via the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Yellowcraigs beach

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Stopped off at WWT Welney to view all the incoming Whooper Swans.

Lapwings at Welney

The first day in Cromer was taken up with me doing my washing at the excellent Revolution washing machine outside Morrisons.  Then we had a walk along the beach to East Runton and caught the bus to West Runton where we were camped.

We visited Norwich the next day by train.

Pigeons flying over the Guildhall. Taken from the market place.  

Norwich cathedral

Then to Sheringham by bus and Blakeney.  There was a storm the day after this so we visited the beach at West Runton and bus back to Sheringham where we had a pub lunch.

Curlew at Blakeney

Short eared owl

Pete and Tetley at West Runton beach

Sheringham beach

All to soon Linda and Pete packed up and made their way home.  I spent the morning at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust at Cley before checking into the Mercure in Norwich.

set off by a marsh harrier

snipe

spotted redshank

view from one of the hides

Marsh harrier

chaos caused

Another excellent weekend.  Our workshop was cancelled due ill health but we wandered around the route which had been planned for us.

Saturday

More pigeons at the market place

Back at the cathedral where there was a graduation ceremony

Sunday

Antony Gormley sculpture at Norwich university

An exhibit at the Arts centre

gulls on the river

Dereliction

That's it until January when I have a swim retreat near Aviemore.  Might get into an icy loch yet!