2017

No swim today. Got stuck in the ice at Traigh Mhor. Stuart and I helped someone who was stuck near Garry, then helped with the camper. Stuart and I then headed off to Coll beach for a swim. Car park was like an ice rink, unsafe.A day for helping others

30/12/2017

Had time for a quick skins dip this affa. Haven't been to Coll beach for a while now, was good to be back to my old training ground. Nice and frosty on land (about 3 degrees). Duckman was saying 6.9 degrees. 790 metres @ 14 minutes.

28/12/2017

Nice trek over the moor to Sialabhig Mhor this morning. Waves were something else but good fun at the same time. Thanks to Stuart, Elspeth, Murph & kids for coming along. Duckman was saying 8.4 degrees. 450 metres @20 minutes.

24/12/2017

Nice skins swim at Bayble beach this afternoon. Thanks to Mhairi for the company. Haven't swam here for some time. Duckman was saying 8 degrees on average, with about 1-2 degrees on land. 600 metres @ 12.26mins.

10/12/2017

Loki and myself went for recce across the moors, to check out a possible swim spot. Last time I was here was for a beach party last century. It certainly has changed a lot and I will be swimming here

3/12/2017

Comical skins swim with Ed at Vatisker Beach, Back, Isle of Lewis. Loads of birds around. Duckman was saying 8 degrees on average. It was actually warmer on land for a change, very mild weather. 1.49km @ 32 minutes

2/12/2017

Last minute decision to go swimming as the wind had gone down a lot. Good fun in the waves at Coll Beach, getting wiped out loads. Duckman was saying 7.5 degrees average, 3 degrees on land. 1.13km done in me trunks.

26/11/2017

Stuart and myself headed down to Harris this morning and met up with Helen for a swim at Horgabost beach. Spectacular scenery all round. Did 995 metres @ 8 degrees in me short shorts. Great to be back in again.

19/11/2017

Fab skins swim at Coll Beach this afternoon. Saw plenty of planes flying overhead coming & going from the airport. 2.5km, decent conditions. Duckman was saying 9.8 degrees average.

4/11/2017

Had time for a pre work dook this morning at Coll Beach. Swam up towards the river and back down again, just short of 30 minutes in me trunks. Duckman was saying 10.3 degrees average. Invigorating way to start the day off.

2/11/2017

What a sky this morning.Spent about 10 minutes in me trunks swimming out and back in again, will build up my times. Duckman was saying 10.2 degrees on average. Bit of fun in the waves too. Even the cows came over to say hello

30/10/2017

Nice swim with Ed at Giordail Beach. It's a beautiful swim spot. Duckman was saying 11.4 degrees. Can totally see why this beach is in Scotland's Magazine's top 10 beaches http://www.scotlandmag.com/magazine/issue38/12008543.html

22/10/2017

A wee impromptu swim at Coll beach after work today. Only had time for half an hour before darkness was drawing in. Duckman was saying 9 degrees on average. Sea was dark and choppy, yay...

18/10/2017

Charity swim from Achlochan by Achiltibuie to Ullapool on Sunday 8th October with Norman Todd. 13.42 miles in 7.41 hours. Duckman was saying 10-12 degrees.

8/10/2017

Good swim at Coll Beach this morning. Thanks to Stuart for the company on the first lap over to the far beach, a good chop/current on the go. Did 3 laps overall, 10.8km @3.21 hours. Duckman was saying 10.8-12.4 depending what end of the beach it was.

30/9/2017

Nice pre work wetsuit swim. Think I'll have change the start time to be in the water for about 7am. 2 seals following me. 2.5k @ 42 minutes. Duckman was saying 12.2 degrees average.

28/9/2017

Great morning for a pre work swim. Doing some wetsuit swimming in practice for next weeks main event. Duckman was saying 12 degrees average. 2.58k @ 44 minutes.

26/9/2017

10k wetsuit swim at Coll Beach today. Bumped into Stuart on lap 2. Plenty of wildlife on the go (crabs, jellyfish and 1 seal). Duckman saying 12.5 degrees average. 3.07 hours

24/9/2017

Another cracking for a pre work swim. Sea was flat calm. Duckman was saying 12.2 degrees on average. 2.6k skins swim done.

21/9/2017

Just the 1 Jobby on the go this morning. A cracking way to start the day off with a skins swim down at Coll Beach. Daylight only giving me enough time for one lap of the beach. Duckman was saying 12.2 degrees. 1 Jellyfish, 1 Seal & 1 Crab spotted

19/9/2017

Sunday Skins Swim at Traigh Mhor, Tolsta. Pretty choppy and managed 6.72k before I thought that something didn't feel right, lost my tow float. I swam in shore and found it lying there, walked back to car park. Duckman was saying 12.7 degrees.

17/9/2017

Only had time for a 3.4k (skins) swim this morning due to less daylight hours :( Still, it was a cracking start to the day with the sea being warmer than the land. Duckman was saying 12 degrees on average.

13/9/2017

Heb Sea Swimmers group outing from Reef to Siaram to Pabbay Mhor to Little Pabbay and back to Reef. Fantastic adventure across 3 different islands off the shore's of Uig, Isle of Lewis. Duckman was saying 13.4 degrees on average

9/9/2017

5k pre work wetsuit swim this morning. A bit dark to start with, so think times will have to change from next week, to be safe. Thanks to Mhairi for the company on the first lap. Duckman was saying an average of 13.2 degrees

7/9/2017

Coll beach 5k wetsuit swim this morning. Against the current on the way up & about 7-8 minutes faster on the way back. Duckman was saying 13.3 degrees on average.

5/9/2017

Colin S Macleod

Thanks for visiting my blog!

I've been a swimmer all my life and over the last several years I've done many challenging open water swims for charity all around our Islands which include the Sound of Barra & the Sound of Harris and both the Little & the Big Minch Channels to name a few.

Having a real passion for open water swimming, I spend a lot of my spare time looking for and discovering amazing new swim spots around the Islands.

I set up The Hebridean Sea Swimmers group in 2011 for all swimmers that live in or visit The Hebrides and it now has over 500 members. I regularly meet up with visiting swimmers as I love to show off our Islands stunning coastline.

I finally decided to make this passion my dream job and team up with Cheggs at SurfLewis & Harris to offer Open Water Swim lessons and Guided Wild Swim Adventures.

I am a qualified STA Swim Coach and RLSS Lifeguard and have years of experience and great local knowledge of the islands environment. Swim safety is of paramount importance to us as is making sure everyone has fun!

If you have any questions about any of the swims we offer or anything at all please get in touch, we are happy to help.

Visit https://www.surflewis.com/open-water-sea-swimming-lewis-harris for more info.

We hope to be part of your Hebridean adventure soon!

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