The Scottish Highlands are an ideal place for swimming. All throughout the Highlands you will find hotels, leisure centres and swimming pools for those who enjoy a few laps, maybe some water aerobics, or just the relaxation to be had in the pool. However, swimming pools are not the only places one can enjoy swimming in the Highlands of Scotland. There are excellent beaches, pristine lochs, rivers, and natural pools all over the Highlands. Imagine enjoying a refreshing swim after a long day of cycling, hiking, or just touring around. The stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands provides a beautiful backdrop to your wild outdoor swimming experience.
Glen Etive, near Glencoe, has a fantastic series of beautiful river pools. Swim with the Loch Ness Monster near the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Explore Loch Lomond and find Rob Roy’s secret cave. Enjoy swimming in the “giant bathtub of Rob Roy” at the Falls of Falloch. The Faerie Pools of Skye provide some of Britain’s clearest, most pristine water. The beaches of the Hebridean Isles with their fine sands and clear water are excellent outdoor swimming venues. The southwest coast of Mull has sugar sand beaches in secluded coves, offering wonderful swimming. Sanna Bay, Morar, and Applecross also offer fine swimming in clear waters. Sandwood Bay, considered Scotland’s wildest beach, with its giant stack is often a must-do for outdoor swimming enthusiasts.
If warmer waters are more your style, then visit one of the many leisure centres and pools throughout the Scottish Highlands. In the Far North, you can find swimming pools in Alness, Invergordon, Wick, Thurso, Golspie, Ullapool, and Nairn, to name a few. There is an aqua centre in Inverness which has pools and a water park. The islands also have swimming pools, including Kirkwall and Stromness on the Orkney Mainland, Brae and Sandwick in the Shetlands, and two locations for the Isle of Skye. Many hotels throughout the Scottish Highlands also have swimming pools and spas, so depending upon your accommodation when you visit the Highlands, you may have a swimming pool right adjacent to you. Because of the unpredictable weather, swimming pools in the Scottish Highlands are all indoors. As well, you can book a stay at a holiday park, caravan park, or campsite which has a swimming pool as one of its amenities.
Finally, for a truly memorable swimming experience, why not swim with the dolphins? In the summer, dolphins can be found all around the Highland coast. Some activity and outdoor centres even offer dolphin swimming adventures as part of their packages. Several dolphin watching boat trips will also offer swimming as an option. Just remember, dolphins are wild and unpredictable creatures, so if you are on a swimming trip with the dolphins, be sure to follow the guidelines and instructions of those operating the adventure.
Swimming is a wonderful activity to enjoy in the Scottish Highlands. Indoor pools can be found all throughout the highlands, either as part of a hotel, holiday park, or leisure centre, or on their own as a community pool. Swimming lessons are also offered at leisure centres and indoor pools. Many hotels and holiday clubs offer indoor swimming facilities, as well. And finally, outdoor swimming opportunities abound with excellent beaches, beautiful lochs, rivers, and secluded coves. Bring your swimming suit and enjoy the waters of the Scottish Highlands on your next Highland holiday.
Most people love swimming, especially children. Scotland's Scottish Highlands offer some excellent swimming in summer in the Scottish Highlands lochs and rivers. Care needs to be taken in some areas due to currents and changeable weather.
The west coast sea of the Scottish Highlands benefits also from warm currents from the Gulf stream with even the odd turtle etc coming up from the Caribbean. Leisure Centres are also available in most large towns for swimming. Most large Hotels will also provide a pool as part of their services.
The Scottish Highlands contain a number of excellent places for swimming, be it along the many coastlines or in the many lakes, or rather if you prefer the comfort of a heated pool at a local resort.
