West coast weekends
2022 DATES
Spring Weekend – 27th – 29th May -FULLY BOOKED
Autumn Weekend – 14th – 16th October – FULLY BOOKED
Price: From £595 per person (+booking fee)
Join SwimWild for an adventurous weekend exploring the coastline around Glenuig, Moidart and the Ardnamurchan Peninsular. White sands, turquoise waters, history, wildlife and adventure – this part of Scotland has it all. Over the weekend we will swim at magical secret beaches and paddle across to tidal islands! Expect incredible scenery, delicious food, stunning swims and comfortable accommodation in a fabulous location!
About Glenuig
Our base for the weekend will be the cosy Glenuig Inn. The coastal village of Glenuig still has a remote feel and was only connected to the main route between Fort William and Mallaig in 1966 when the road was built (previously it was a horse track). The village was only connected to the power grid in 1983! A short walk from the village is Samalaman Beach and Samalaman Island, a perfect place to swim, with spectacular views across to the Small Isles.
Glenuig Inn was renovated with sustainability at its heart and, with its owners considering the environmental impact of everything that they do. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable shared rooms, with between 2-5 beds per room. All rooms are en-suite and private to SwimWild group members only. The food is always delicious, and all ingredients are as local, natural and organic as possible.
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Itinerary
Please note that this is a very rough guide and that we will adapt the weekend carefully to suit the group, tides and weather conditions.
Friday
2pm – Pick-up from Fort William train station.
Transfer to Glenuig Inn (journey time approximately 1 hour).
Introductions and safety briefing
Acclimatisation swim at the beautiful Samalaman beach.
Saturday
We will start the day with a coastal walk (approximately 1 hour each way) to two beautiful sandy, remote beaches just south of the isolated crofting village of Smirisary.
In the afternoon we will drive to Ardtoe. Ardtoe Beach is a lovely sandy beach with rocky islands on the north-east edge of the Ardnamurchan peninsula on the northern side of Kentra Bay. There is also a fabulous jetty to swim from if the group want an extra dip on the way home!
Sunday
Today we will visit Castle Tiroam, the ancient fortress of the MacDonalds, located on a tidal island. Castle Tioram was built in the mid 13th century and extended in the 14th century as a testament to the independent rule of Rough Bounds by the Clanranalds, Lords of the Isles. Depending on the height of the tide we may need to paddle across to the island. We will swim from a small beach on the far side of the island, under the shadow of the imposing castle.
We’ll head back to Glenuig for a final dip before we transfer back to Fort William.
4pm – Trip finishes with a drop off at Fort William train station.
Who can participate in this trip?
These weekends are suitable for both beginners and more advanced swimmers.
The focus of these weekends is to explore the stunning coastline, paddle to tidal islands and discover beautiful beaches, rather than swimming long distances.
Water temperatures should be between 8-12 degrees in April and 12-15 degrees in October.
Swims will vary from short dips and paddles to swims of up to 1km (depending on conditions/temperature) and there will be multiple short dips/swims per day.
You should also be happy walking along coastal paths for up to an hour, some of which are rough and boggy in places.
What's included?
- 2 nights accommodation at Glenuig Inn. All rooms are shared occupancy unless Private Room Supplement option is selected.
- Swim itinerary – escorted by qualified swim guide
- Transport from pick-up in Fort William on day one to drop off in Fort William on the final day
- All meals during the trip
- SwimWild swim cap
What's not included?
- Travel to and from Fort William
- Swim equipment, wetsuits and personal outdoor gear
- Alcohol
- Private room (£140 Private Room Supplement available)
How much does it cost?
- £595 per person (+ 6% booking fee), with a non-refundable 25% deposit payable on booking.
- Private Room Supplement £140. Please select the tick box for this option during the booking process if you would like a single room.
- The balance for this trip is payable 8 weeks prior to departure. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
