Want to learn more about wild swimming & safety techniques, improve your swimming stroke and simply enjoy a few invigorating days amidst majestic landscapes? 
These are just some of the benefits of our brand new hike & swim adventures. Whether you’re dipping in the crystal clear sea or swimming across straits and skerries, wild swimming gives you opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while diving into a world of improved well-being and mental strength. Plus it’s a great opportunity to experience that ‘after swim high’. 

Science is starting to back up the anecdotal evidence with studies that suggest that there are lasting positive effects of a bracing outdoor dip. Studies are still in the early stages and we are only just starting to understand how cold water immersion affects the human body. Initial results have indicated cold water swimming can help develop an increased tolerance to stress, a boost to self esteem, used as a mindfulness exercise, decreased inflammation, increased immunity, radiant skin and the post swim high. Yes, the fabled after swim high is a real thing. As the mix of exercise and cold water exposure triggers a release of dopamine, the body’s feel good hormone. If you swim with a buddy or in a group the chance to share and compare your experience with like-minded people intensifies the experience. 

So whether you’re new to the world of wild swimming or wish to improve your skills and learn some techniques, our qualified local Open Water Swimming Coach will accompany you on your hike & swim adventure.

On booking this trip, you will receive all the exciting trip info via our free travel app. You’ll have access to your itinerary, trip countdown, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, know before you go trip info, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24 hours a day via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper to benefit the environment and the need of carrying around documents with you. A’ppy days.

With being a small family business we pride ourselves with providing personal, professional and friendly service. We appreciate that everyone has different levels of experience and reasons for wishing to embark on our Hike & Swim adventures and therefore require varying levels of support and guidance. We’re here to help you every step of the way from the moment you join the flock all the way through to completing the challenge and beyond. Jim and Sue’s knowledge and expertise stems from dozens of years of travelling and exploring the UK and Sue being a competent volunteer crew at our local RNLI Lifeboat Station; in order to fully support you in the lead up to your adventure.

Plus having created this adventure, both Jim and Sue are best placed to answer any questions you may have, no matter how big or small. We’re here to help every step of the way.

Adventurous Ewe puts the safety and well-being of you, our leaders & crew and the communities we visit at the centre of all our operations, always. Your safety and well-being is our top priority.

Rest assured we have a thorough Safety Management System, indepth risk assessments and risk management systems in place. 

Kayak support with back up tender

Kayak support is included on this trip for the open water swim sections together with a lifeguard rescue tube. Plus there’s VHF radio contact with the crew on Provident and a back up tender boat if needed.

For more info, please visit our Safety and Well-being page. 

You will be accompanied by our local Adventurous Ewe Swim Leader who is a certified Open Water Swim Instructor throughout your trip. Our Instructors have the relevant swimming and lifeguarding qualifications – current SLSGB beach lifeguard, Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification, Oceanman Open Water Diploma and American Swimming Association Coaching level 1.

Your Skipper is a professionally endorsed Yachtmaster and along with a first mate and deckhand are responsible for the navigation and sailing of the boat and your safety at all times.

They’re also a friendly bunch with a huge level of care and a great sense of humour. Rest assured they are fully experienced and first aid qualified. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group.

Leaders will carry safety equipment and first aid kits with them at all times. Please note, these kits are for emergencies only so please come prepared with your own personal first aid items.

Please note, the itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to unusual weather patterns, the strength of the group, and other unpredictable factors. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that may occur. In all such circumstances, your Skipper and Swim Instructor will have the final say.

We pride ourselves in small group adventures to minimise the impact on the environment, to maximise your safety & well-being and to make your experience more authentic.

The minimum group size for this trip to run is 4 people. The maximum group size is 8 people.

Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people. 

If you have a group of over 6 people, we would be more than happy to run a private trip for you. 

For any further info or to chat about running a bespoke trip, we’d love to hear from you at info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

Our Sail & Swim adventures are a team event and not designed to be individual competitive races. We encourage team spirit and support of each other to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to complete the challenge, learn new skills and enjoy the journey along the way too. These trips are a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and share an incredible adventure whilst being accompanied and supported by friendly and qualified Adventurous Ewe Leaders and Crew.

Kayak Support

Kayak support is included on this trip for the open water swim sections. 

The Scottish Coast Sail and Swim is graded as ‘Medium’ dependent on weather conditions. This trip is designed for people who want to swim at a more relaxed pace, enjoy the scenery and learn new skills (be it cold water dipping or stroke coaching). A good base level of fitness will help you enjoy each of the activities.

Swimming: previous open water swimming experience is not required as full instruction and support will be provided. As a safety precaution we recommend that you’re able to swim 25m in distance. If you are not a confident swimmer please let us know so we can make the necessary plans. There’s also plenty of opportunities for cold water dipping with safety techniques provided by your Swim Leader.

Sailing: a passage plan will be provided prior to your departure, this will be dependent on tides and the weather forecast. You are welcome to get involved with helping the crew with sailing as much or as little as you wish. 

Please note; our sail & swim itineraries are an example of what may take place during your trip and should be used as a guide only. Actual swim locations and distances will vary according to local weather and swim conditions.

Sail & Swim Conditions

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, however you should be aware that certain marine life such as jellyfish may be present during the swims. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however if you suffer from anaphylaxis, please consult the office prior to booking.

If you are prone to sea sickness you may wish to bring along sea sickness tablets. Some easy ways to ward off nausea are: ensuring you are well rested; avoid screen time; get plenty of fresh air; look off at the horizon; move closer to the middle of the boat, where the motion of the sea will be reduced.

To help you prepare for your trip, we also have exclusive offers with our Training Partners and Communities – Her Spirit and Strength & Movement Coach, Peter Lant. For more info, please visit our Training & Preparation page.

The more you are prepared, the more you will enjoy the challenge.

Our motto is: Train hard, smile harder and enjoy the journey!

A full kit list will be provided when you book on this trip. In summary:

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Swimming caps
• Swim safety device/Tow float

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

BAG
Soft duffel bag or rucksack for all your kit – rigid suitcases take up too much room in your cabin

CLOTHES
Waterproof jacket (with hood) and trousers
Down jacket or similar
Trousers/shorts/skirts for hiking (not jeans)
T-shirts (merino wool or wick fabric)
Underwear and socks
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Warm hat/beanie
Something to sleep in
Trail runners or similar for ashore and the boat (ensure they are non-slip)
Wellies are sometimes helpful too if you plan to be on deck for a while

SWIMMING
Wetsuit (these are available to hire, however we recommend bringing your own if you wish to use one)
Swim-suit x 2
Swim goggles x 2 (if you wish to swim as opposed to dipping)
Aqua shoes or neoprene socks 
Neoprene gloves and socks (optional)
Beanie for cold water dipping
Quick dry towel
Changing robe or dryrobe (exclusive discount code will be provided for smoc smoc on booking)

OTHER
Mobile phone – all the cabins have USB charging points. It may be a good idea to bring a decent cover for your phone and any other equipment
Suncream
Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
Towel/s for boat & shower
Hand sanitiser
Headlamp
Reusable water bottle (x1 litre)
Water bladder/camelbak or similar for trek (2 litre capacity)
Hot water flask
Favourite snacks and electrolytes 

OPTIONAL
Earplugs
Card games 

To help you get the very best from your adventure we will provide you with an exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code to use in independent UK outdoor retailers both online and in store. They offer a large choice of kit that the staff themselves use while climbing, hiking, swimming, running, travelling or enjoying expeditions across the globe and they pride themselves on sharing their experience and knowledge of equipment so you can choose the right gear to suit you and your adventure.

The weather in Scotland can change rapidly so it is essential that you are prepared for all conditions including rain, wind and heat. In the week leading up to your trip we recommend checking the Mountain Weather Information Service. You will also receive weather updates via our mobile travel app.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather and tidal conditions when carrying out our swims. As a consequence, open water swimming trips require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your Adventurous Ewe Swim Instructors and Skipper as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, on the west coast of Scotland there is always somewhere brilliant to go if the weather changes – from sheltered sea lochs to island bays and small harbours. Sometimes you may go ashore and explore a freshwater loch or river often just a few miles from your anchorage. Your crew are expert at finding the right places to go and the best place for your swim. Provident does have an engine but will sail whenever possible.

Please note, the Skipper and Swim Instructor/s reserve the right to change the itinerary at any time should the conditions require it as your safety and wellbeing is our top priority at all times.  In these circumstances we will make the best alternative arrangements possible that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Food

All meals are included whilst aboard Provident. The food on board is hearty, healthy(ish) and wherever possible, local. Our contacts with local providers could well see us pulling lobster or langoustine straight out of the sea or popping by Colonsay for some free range pork or visit the island bakehouse on Jura. Typically we’ll offer a good breakfast with porridge and some form of cooked indulgence. Hot drinks and snacks mid-morning. A simple lunch of home-made soup or sausage rolls or a delicious seafood sandwich. More tea and cakes in the afternoon and a delicious evening meal followed by a proper pudding.

All dietary requirements including vegetarian and vegan can be catered for. At least half our meals will be vegetarian for everyone as we’re trying to keep healthy and do our bit for the planet; if you would prefer any level of plant based or other diet just let us know when you book or email us at info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

Drinks

There’s a stock of beer and wine on board which will be available at modest prices to enjoy with food. We also carry a stock of the finest whisky sourced from the areas we sail to so we will be happy to share a dram and give you some waffle…. I mean tasting notes.

So, we are not a “dry” boat but we rarely drink while underway and consumption of alcohol at any time is at the discretion of the skipper.

Please bring your own water bottle/s and hot water flasks to refill. This avoids the purchase of single use plastic water bottles. 

If you are unlucky enough to be feeling a little off-colour we’ll do our best to keep you comfortable. But better still… we’ll do all that we can to keep you feeling sunny side up in the first place. For one thing Provident is a big, heavy and stable ship. Better than a modern plastic-fantastic at absorbing the waves. The way a boat is sailed and where we go makes a big difference too. One of the best things about the West of Scotland is the choice. If things are looking a bit bouncy on the open water we can head up any number of amazing sea lochs. If the waves are sideways-on while we head for a particular island? No problem, we’ll go somewhere else. The choices are endless. We also have lots of experience with various sea sickness remedies and the ultimate secret weapon is to get you steering the boat. As if by magic, the process of taking the wheel allows the brain to reassemble the world and this can have you feeling good again in no time.

The impact of single use plastic is having on our landscape, wildlife and oceans, it is now more important than ever that we all make changes in order to help our planet. We may not be a huge global company but we’re passionate about playing our part and trying to make a huge difference collectively. Together we can dramatically reduce our consumption of single use plastics and support our responsible travel ethos of ‘Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but boot-prints, keep nothing but memories.’

You can make a difference too with taking part in this Multi Activity and purchasing one of these environmentally friendly reusable alternative bottles compared to single-use plastic water bottles. Grab a Water-to-Go bottle through Adventurous Ewe and receive a 15% discount. Even better, Water-to-Go will donate a further 15% to our charity partner, Cool Earth. For more info please click here or email us at info@adventurousewe.co.uk to buy your Water-To-Go bottle.

Deposit: £325 per person required on booking and non-refundable
Remaining balance: £1110 per person due for payment no later than 90 days prior to the trip departure date
Total cost: £1435 per person

Monthly payment plan
A monthly payment plan can be arranged for this trip. Please contact us for more information or to set up your plan. Simply email info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

Book & Travel with Confidence
As well as carefully crafting amazing and meaningful adventures across the planet, we’ve made booking them as flexible, safe and as simple as possible. 

For the latest info regarding booking and travelling with Adventurous Ewe, please visit our website.

Travel insurance
We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance when booking on this trip. For UK residents we have partnered with Campbell & Irvine to provide you with a travel insurance program. If you would like to obtain cover for your trip please feel free to contact specialist Insurance Brokers, Campbell Irvine Direct for a quote.

All your trip info will be sent to you through our free mobile travel app. You will receive an email from Adventurous Ewe with your personalised log in code for this app.

For the latest and greatest from the land of adventures, simply follow us at:

Facebook: @adventurousewe
Instagram: adventurousewe
LinkedIn: Adventurous-Ewe-Ltd
Youtube: Adventurous Ewe

You are most welcome to use the hashtags
#ewecandoit #thisflockrock #adventurousewe #letsgoadventure

Your Adventurous Ewe Skipper and Crew have VHF radios for the Coastguard and mobile phones in case of emergencies. The team are trained to deal with these situations. Please ensure you listen to your Skipper & Swim Instructor during these times and refrain from putting any posts on social media during this time. Should you find yourself unable to continue with the trip, your crew will make the necessary arrangements. Depending on the situation, you will be met by the support vehicle (depending on access) and you will be transferred back to your accommodation or nearby medical facility as required. Your Emergency Contact at Adventurous Ewe HQ is Jim Young on 07747 346 588.