About Becca

Becca started swimming outside to help with a PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) diagnosis. She tracked down a local coach who enabled me to get in the water with some like-minded souls, and as soon as she submerged, she was captivated.

Becca first met Alice in 2020, en route to the IWSA Winter Swimming World Championships in Slovenia. This was her first World Championships, and she didn’t really know what to expect, and she quickly found herself lining up with Alice in the holding room before races.

During the summer of 2020, Becca was going through a particularly rocky path, career-wise, and in need of a fresh start. Four years in TV production were enough, so when Alice asked whether Becca would like to take her safety qualifications to become a swim guide, as well as taking over some of SwimWild’s admin & she said YES! ….and really, the rest is history!

Becca loves exploring Scotland and all it has to offer. Since working for SwimWild, Becca has been keeping a list of all the Scottish swim spots she has swum in – she has reached 48 so far, and there is still so much more to explore!

Becca’s Favourite Scottish Swim Locations (so far!) –

• Loch Coruisk, Skye – An awe-inspiring location surrounded by the Cullen Mountains on the Isle of Skye. A particularly incredible swim with a particular incredible lady from one of our trips to Knoydart.
• River Spey, Cairngorms – The first swim Becca had with Alice in Scotland before she had started guiding. She remembers the water rushing and it being quite hard to stand up in the flow. “It was that first feeling of “this is my job now” and how lucky I felt in that moment.”
• Loch Insh, Cairngorms – Will always be incredibly special to Becca as it’s where she completed my ice mile, where she had a golden eagle circle whilst hacking out an ice channel, and it’s where we take swimmers during some of our local retreats.

What does Becca do when she is not working for SwimWild?

Although SwimWild is based in the Scottish Highlands, Becca is actually based in the North East of England, working part-time (remotely) on SwimWild admin and coming up to Scotland to guide SwimWild trips and help coordinate SwimWild events.

She is also a British Diver’s Marine Life Rescue Mammal Medic. She is fully trained by the charity to respond to callouts in her local area to help marine mammals in need. This can range from injured seals to babysitting Walruses. It’s a fulfilling job and a way to give back to the local water around her. 

Becca is also part of the H2o Trails team for Fenwick Ridley, who runs a swimming lake in Northumberland.

Becca’s Biggest Swimming Achievement?

“Getting in. Honestly, for me, if I hadn’t gained the courage that day to take to the water, I’m not sure what my life would look like without it.”

We think her Extreme Ice Mile is a pretty big achievement too!