The Shape of Water; Creative Writing and Loch Swimming Day Retreat
Location:
Suitable for all abilities
£129 per person
Join award winning authors and wild swimmers Alice Goodridge and Emma Simpson for a day of immersion and inspiration in and around the magical waters of Loch Insh, in the Cairngorms National Park.
This unique creative retreat will combine two gorgeous guided swims with two creative writing sessions inspired by the stunning surroundings and the experience of immersing in the water. With their combined expertise Alice and Emma will lead you through a nurturing adventure for the body, mind and heart as we explore the shape of water. There will be hot drinks and cake throughout the day as well as a warming lunch served in the cosy and welcoming Boathouse Restaurant.
Who is this day retreat for?
Anyone and everyone! Experienced swimmers and first-time dippers, writers and non-writers, the curious and the adventurous.
Whether dipping your toe into the open water for the first time, or returning to a place that feels like home, this day is for you. You might be picking up a pen after years, or simply soaking in the quiet creative inspiration of the Cairngorms. However you arrive, you are wholeheartedly welcome. No experience is needed— just a sense of curiosity, openness and a willingness to explore.
Join us for a creative day of swimming, writing, connection, calm (and cake) in the heart of one of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes.
Meet the Team!
Emma Simpson
Emma is an award winning author, wild swimmer and tea sommelier (!) specialising in narrative non-fiction. Having spent a couple of decades being distracted by a career as an air traffic controller and experiencing two life-wrenching events, Emma rediscovered her pen and her passion for storytelling at the same time as discovering how transformational cold-water swimming was for her health, wellbeing, and sense of connection with the world. In March 2025, Emma’s debut book: Breaking Waves: Discovery, Healing and Inspiration in the Open Water was published by Icon Books. Emma interviewed women across the world to learn what brings us to the water’s edge, with stories gathered from Fiji to Finland and Africa to Canada. Breaking Waves is a tenderly narrated memoir about healing wounds, reclaiming a voice and discovering freedom through the open water. Emma runs creative writing workshops in her home county of Surrey in the South of England, and also hosts a thriving online community through her Lemon Soul publication on Substack. She is currently writing her second book about tea.
Alice Goodridge
Alice is an author, illustrator, swimmer and open water coach with a passion for introducing people to the joys of swimming outdoors and exploring Scotland’s lochs, rivers and coast. She has numerous marathon and ice swims under her belt, including swimming the length of Scotland’s longest freshwater loch – Loch Awe. Despite Alice’s own extraordinary swim experiences, she feels that her biggest achievements are in bringing people together to enjoy the open water and in the power of the communities formed at the water’s edge. Alice illustrated the beautiful ‘Wild Waters: A Wildlife and Water Lover’s Companion to the Aquatic World‘ in 2021, and in 2023 published her own gorgeous book: ‘Swimming Wild in Scotland: A Guide to over 100 Scottish River, Loch and Sea Swimming Spots‘ which will provide some of the inspiration for the day’s creative activities.
With Emma and Alice, you are in safe hands indeed.
What to expect?
10:00 – Arrive and gather for welcoming hot drinks and cake at the Ptarmigan Dome
10:30 – Introductions and safety briefing, followed by our first guided swim
11:30 – Creative Writing Workshop ‘The Taste of an Iceberg: Exploring the Senses‘
13:00 – Warming lunch in the Boathouse Restaurant
14:00 – Walk to a new swim spot and our second guided swim
15:00 – Creative Writing Workshop: ‘Beneath the Surface: Discovery and Inspiration‘
17:30 – Wrap up and say goodbye!
Additional Information
Accomodation
If you are travelling from a distance and would like to make a weekend of it Loch Insh Outdoor Centre has a range of accommodation options on-site – from single and group bunk rooms in Insh Hall, to private Apartments and Chalets (some with their own hot tubs!)
There is also the option to book a parking places for motorhomes or campervans overlooking the loch, with water tap and bathroom facilities open 24/7.
All participants get 10% discount on accommodation when quoting LOYALTY10 at the time of booking.
All accommodation must be book directly with Loch Insh Outdoor Centre.
Other Activities (& more swimming!)
For those who are staying a little longer, there will be bookable sauna sessions on the Saturday evening right by the loch, and there is also an invitation to join Alice’s regular Sunday morning community swim at the Loch (free and open to anyone).
Loch Insh Outdoor Centre also offers a range of activities, including paddle boarding and canoeing that are bookable via the centre.
What’s included
- 2 x creative writing workshops
- 2 x guided swims (one involves a short walk each way on a flat, but sometimes uneven, track)
- Safety cover for all swims
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Lunch, snacks and hot drinks
What’s not included
-
Accommodation – although the is a 10% discount on Loch Insh Accommodation for participants
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