Cairngorms Winter Retreat January 2026: Winter Swimming in the Cairngorms & a Wild Swimming Holiday in Scotland
Ice swimming, winter lochs, a waterside sauna – a guided Scotland swim retreat
Arriving in the Cairngorms for a Winter Swimming Holiday
After weeks of snow and ice, January arrived with a shift in mood. Rain, wind and that wonderfully wild, wet winter weather that the Cairngorms does so well. As guests began making their way north for our January Cairngorms Winter Retreat, it already felt like the beginning of a true winter swimming holiday in Scotland.
People arrived from all corners of the UK. Ferries from the Isle of Lewis, sleeper trains up from London, and many places in between. Everyone arrived safely at Inshriach House, our base for the retreat, where our dream team of guides, myself (Alice), Becca Harvey and Lynda Stoddart, were reunited once again, alongside our fabulous cook, Pauline. We even had a little red squirrel at the kitchen window to keep us company!
This is one of the things I love most about hosting a wild swimming retreat in Scotland. Bringing together people from different places, all drawn by a shared love of cold water, wild landscapes and winter swimming in the Cairngorms.
We began, as we so often do, with a cosy lunch and introductions. Sharing where we’d come from and what had drawn each person to this Scotland winter swim retreat.
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Thursday: Arrival, Introductions and Our First Winter Swim
First Dip at Loch Morlich. A Classic Cairngorms Winter Swim
With lunch finished, it was time for our first swim. We headed to Loch Morlich, one of the most iconic spots for winter swimming in the Cairngorms. Moody skies sat over snowy hills and the loch lay calm and flat. Perfect conditions for easing into a winter swimming holiday.
Everyone got in, taking their time to soak up the atmosphere before we wandered back along the beach and through the beautiful pine forest. Back at Inshriach, there was time to warm up by the fire before dinner. A gentle, grounding start to our wild swimming holiday in Scotland.
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Thursday Dinner: Slow-braised ox cheeks, squash & chickpea tagine, tabbouleh, roasted beetroot & goat’s cheese salad
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Pudding: Apple & pear crumble
Friday: Loch Insh, Winter Sunshine and Sauna by the Loch
Winter Swimming at Loch Insh. Calm Water and Highland Light
Friday greeted us with brighter skies as we headed to a quiet, sheltered bay on Loch Insh. Sunlight filtered through the trees and lit up the hills on the far side of the loch. One of those swims that reminds you exactly why winter swimming Scotland can feel so special.
Afterwards, we walked along to Loch Insh Outdoor Centre for coffees, teas and hot chocolates overlooking the water. A very civilised way to warm up during a guided winter swimming retreat.
Sauna and Cold Water at Loch Alvie
In the afternoon, we headed to Loch Alvie for something really special. A visit to the brand-new location of Sauna Cairngorms.
This is a regular swim spot for us, but it was the first time the saunas had been moved here. Hot saunas, cold loch dips, and that deep sense of relaxation that comes from alternating heat and cold. One of the highlights of this winter swimming retreat in Scotland.
Warming Up After the Water
After our afternoon swim and sauna session, we returned to Inshriach as the light faded and the house filled once more with warmth. Wet kit was hung up, delicious homemade Chocolate Swiss roll was eaten, fires were lit, and there was time to relax and chat before gathering around the table.
Dinner, as always, was cooked by Pauline and was just what everyone needed after a day in cold winter water.
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Friday Dinner: Sweet chilli baked trout, mushroom shawarma, roasted sweet potato with chimichurri, whipped feta with sumac onions, and warm flatbreads
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Pudding: Lemon posset
It was one of those evenings where conversation ebbed and flowed easily. Afterwards, Alastair brought out a selection of whiskies for an informal tasting and a bit of gentle whisky education for anyone who fancied it. A relaxed and cosy end to another full day on our winter swimming retreat in the Cairngorms.
Saturday: Ice Swimming, Fairy Lochs and Winter Sunsets
Ice Swimming at An Lochan Uaine (The Fairy Lochan)
Saturday was our chance to stretch our legs and head a little higher into the Cairngorms. We made our way to Glenmore and walked up through the forest to An Lochan Uaine, also known as the Fairy Lochan.
The loch gets its name from local folklore. It’s said that the fairies used to wash their clothes in its green-tinged waters, giving the loch its unusual colour and lending it a slightly magical feel. Standing there in winter, with ice spreading across the surface, it’s not hard to see why the stories stuck.
At our chosen entry point, there was a clear, swimmable section of water. We slipped in and swam right up to the edge of the ice, giving some swimmers their first experience of ice swimming in Scotland. It was quiet, focused and deeply memorable.
Winter Swimming and Ice Chimes at Loch Garten
In the afternoon, we headed on to Loch Garten for another winter swim. Here, the ice was thinner and closer to the entry point. Easily breakable, though still impressively thick. The patterns in the ice were extraordinary, and the sound, quickly named the ice chimes, was utterly mesmerising.
These moments are what make a winter swimming holiday in the Cairngorms so special. Cold water, stillness, and the feeling of being fully present in a wild winter landscape.
After our swims, we wandered down to Loch Mallachie to catch the low winter sun shining through the trees, before heading back to Inshriach to warm up.
Returning to Inshriach
First came afternoon tea, including the now-famous carrot cake, which disappeared very quickly indeed. This was followed by a visit to Walter’s wonderfully quirky gin distillery, where we heard stories of Inshriach, the gin, and future plans. Many people left with bottles of gin, and some with lamb from the farm freezer.
That evening, with Burns Night falling the following day and holding special meaning for Fay and her husband Andy, we shared a celebratory curry supper together.
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Saturday Dinner: Chicken pasanda, mattar paneer, lentil dahl, Bombay potatoes, kachumber salad, raita, rice and naan
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Pudding: Chai-spiced chocolate mousse
A warming, generous meal, and a perfect way to round off a day full of winter swimming, walking and connection.
Sunday: A Final Winter Swim at Loch an Eilein
A Cold and Beautiful Final Dip
On our final morning, we headed to Loch an Eilein, just a short distance from Inshriach. The loch was calm and quiet, and we took a moment to enjoy the stillness before getting in.
The water temperature hovered around 2.5°C, making it a true winter swim and a fitting finale to this Scotland winter swimming retreat. A cold, beautiful dip to end a very special few days.
We returned to Inshriach to pack up, load the minibus and gather one last time around the table. Pauline had saved something very special for the finale.
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Sunday Lunch: Roast Inshriach lamb, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and all the trimmings
A proper Sunday roast, shared slowly, with plenty of stories, laughter and reluctant goodbyes. A wonderful way to close a few days of winter swimming, wild water and shared experience.
Looking Ahead to Next Winter Swimming Retreats ❄️
Plans are already forming for the 2026–27 Cairngorms Winter Retreats. Dates aren’t live just yet, but if you’d like to be the first to hear when they’re released, and have the best chance of securing a place, you can register your interest below.
? Click here to register your interest for future Winter Retreats
