CAIRNGORMS WINTER RETREAT
DATES:
12th – 15th November 2026 – 1 place remaining
November – 1 small single room available (no single supplement required)
10th – 13th December 2026 – FULLY BOOKED
14th – 17th January 2027 – FULLY BOOKED
December & January – Waiting list only
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Location: Inshriach House, Aviemore
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4 days / 3 nights – Thursday lunchtime – Sunday afternoon
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Multiple winter dips per day (water temperatures 0 – 6°C)
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Suitable for all abilities (beginners to experienced winter swimmers)
Price: £1,375pp (all inclusive except travel to Aviemore)
Single room supplement: £220 (Please select this option as an ‘add-on’ after you have filled in the rest of your details on the online booking form)
Join SwimWild for a wonderful few days of winter swims and invigorating dips in the Cairngorms National Park. We will spend our days exploring the stunning local lochs and rivers and our evenings relaxing back at our base for the weekend, the beautiful Inshriach House. There is no pressure to join in with all (or any) of the swims over the weekend, however, there will be the chance to enjoy a couple of short winter dips each day, followed up by wonderful home-cooked food and time to chill around Inshriach’s cosy log fires.
Who can participate in this trip?
This retreat is suitable for both beginners and more advanced swimmers, although ideally, you should have some form of cold water acclimatisation for this retreat. Water temperatures should be between 0-6 degrees at this time of year so dips will be short and sweet. Most people choose to dip without wetsuits, however neoprene swimmers are also very welcome! If you have any doubt about your suitability to swim/dip on this trip, get in touch with us and we can discuss the options.
Expect breathtaking scenery, delicious home-cooked food, life-affirming water temperatures and comfortable accommodation in a fabulous location. This retreat will include loch and river swims, subject to weather conditions. This trip really is suitable for all abilities. Come with a sense of fun and adventure, plenty of warm kit and a big appetite!
Will it snow? Possibly
Will it rain? Probably
Will there be sunshine? Hopefully
Will there be ice? Maybe
Will there be cake? DEFINITELY!
About Inshriach House
Our base is the beautiful Inshriach House, originally built as an Edwardian Shooting Lodge, now a fabulous retreat with cosy drawing rooms, a stunning dining hall and its own gin distillery on the grounds! Nestled four miles south of Aviemore, in 200 acres of its own private woodland and pasture, the estate has three miles of riverbank access, along the famous River Spey. It even has it’s own secret swim spot, complete with hot tub and sauna! Inshriach is the perfect place to enjoy stunning views of the Cairngorms and cosy up ready for a Scottish swimming adventure.
In addition to the numerous original features, the house has been brought into the 21st century with the addition of a wood pellet hot water system and a modern shower room (downstairs). Upstairs there are 5 double rooms, 2 twin rooms and 3 single rooms (none are ensuite) and 3 further shared bathrooms. 7 of the bedrooms have hand basins.
Despite its ‘world away’ feel, Inshriach House is easily accessible. The closest train station is in Aviemore, around 4 miles away. There are direct day and night train services from London to Aviemore. Please see below for more travel information.
Itinerary
Thursday – Welcome to the Cairngorms!
Meeting in the Highland town of Aviemore, we arrive at Inshriach House in time for lunch, ready to discover beautiful swim locations and share experiences with like-minded cold-water enthusiasts. We’ll chat about plans for the days ahead before setting off on our first winter swim – a sunset dip at a local loch. Afterwards we’ll head back to Inshriach to warm up, relax by the cosy fires, and enjoy a delicious meal together in the dining room. The perfect introduction to our winter retreat in the UK’s biggest (and coldest!) national park!
Friday – Highest Beach and Castle Dip
Today we’ll feel the sand (or snow!) beneath our toes as we dip at Loch Morlich beach – the highest freshwater beach in the UK! We’ll swim with spectacular views over the Cairngorms Mountain Range before heading back to Inshriach for a warming lunch. After this we’ll head out for a swim at Loch an Eilein, where we will dip with the backdrop of ruins of a majestic 13th century island castle. Later in the afternoon there will be free time to relax and enjoy a hearty dinner. In the evening may even have a chance to look around Inshriach’s own gin distillery, with drinks down in the Saloon Bar!
Saturday – Fairy Loch and Hidden Sauna
This morning we’ll walk up to An Lochan Uaine. Also known as the Fairy Loch, local legend says it gets its green colour because the fairy folk wash their clothes in it! After a warming lunch back at the lodge we will wander down to the banks of the River Spey for a river dip and sauna session at Inshriach’s exclusive log-cabin sauna! After this you’ll have some free time to enjoy the woodland surroundings before a scrumptious dinner in the dining room.
Sunday – Final Swim and Farewell Feast!
Our final morning together, but we’ll still have time for one last swim! After our morning dip, we’ll return to lodge for the last time to pack up and enjoy a wonderful farewell feast! You’ll depart after lunch, invigorated, connected by cold water and carrying memories of the time you spent exploring the chilly waters of this wild wintery landscape.
How much does it cost?
£1375 per person (£1595 with single room supplement), with a non-refundable 25% deposit payable on booking.The balance for this trip is payable 10 weeks prior to departure. Individual payment plans are available. Please see further information below and contact us if you have any questions.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.
What’s included
- Accommodation in Inshriach House (based on twin/double occupancy)
- Swimming, safety cover, guiding. Swims always escorted by qualified and knowledgeable swim guides, with experience of winter/ice swimming safety.
- Home-cooked breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
- Alcohol with evening meals.
- Home cooked snacks and cakes
- SwimWild swim cap
- Pick-up/drop-off in Aviemore
- All swim transfers
- Plenty of fun and good memories!
What’s not included
- Travel to and from Inshriach House (guests are advised to travel to Aviemore station where we can arrange pickups)
- Swim equipment, wetsuits and personal outdoor gear.
- Any alcohol not served with meals
- Single room supplement (£220) Please select this option as an ‘add-on’ after you have filled in the rest of your details on the online booking form.
More information
Arrivals
We will meet you at the entrance of Aviemore Railway Station at 12:00pm on Thursday.
If arriving by car please arrive at Inshriach House between 11:30am and 12:15pm.
Our welcome meeting and lunch will start at 12:30pm.
Departures
We will return you to Aviemore Railway Station by 2:00pm on Sunday.
If departing by car you will be required to leave Inshriach House by 2:30pm.
Getting to Inshriach House, Aviemore
Guests can either arrive directly by car, or we can collect you from Aviemore train station, just a few miles away.
By Car
Inshriach House is around 4 miles south of Aviemore on the backroad (B970) between Inverdruie and Feshiebridge.
Address: Inshriach House, Aviemore PH22 1QP
From Inverness: A short 45-minute drive south along the A9.
From Edinburgh/Glasgow: Take the M90 (from Edinburgh) or M80 (from Glasgow) to Perth, then the A9 north. The drive takes roughly 2.5–3 hours.
By Train
Aviemore is directly on the Highland Main Line. If you’re not driving, this is one of the most relaxed and scenic ways to arrive.
From London: Travel overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Aviemore. It’s a direct service with cosy cabins, allowing you to wake up in the Highlands. There are also day-time trains direct from London’s King’s Cross, with more options if you change in Edinburgh, Glasgow and/or Perth.
From Edinburgh or Glasgow: Take the train north via Perth or direct services from Glasgow Queen Street. Journey times are around 3.5 to 4 hours.
From Inverness: Aviemore is about 35 minutes by train, with frequent daily departures on the Highland Main Line.
From Inverness Airport to Aviemore (via Inverness Station)
If you’re flying into Inverness Airport (INV):
From the airport terminal it is a 15-20 minute walk to Inverness Airport Train Station. Alternatively there is a regular Stagecoach bus link (Number 11) between the terminal building and the station, operating every 30 minutes.
From Inverness Airport Train Station it is then a short train journey (around 15 minutes) into Inverness.
From Inverness Station, catch a southbound ScotRail service to Aviemore. Trains typically run every 1–2 hours, and the journey takes about 35 minutes.
Once you arrive in Aviemore, we can pick you up from the station.
By Air
Inverness Airport is the closest option, with regular flights from London, Bristol, Manchester, and select European cities.
Via Other Major Airports: Arriving into Edinburgh, Glasgow, or London Heathrow/Gatwick offers onward connections by train or domestic flights. Edinburgh and Inverness are convenient for reaching the Highlands.
Whether you’re gliding through the hills by train or winding your way up by car, your journey to Inshriach House is the perfect start to your Highland experience.
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