2018

Road trip over to the far end of Uig this morning for a wee wander about. Sea was too rough at Mealastadh for a swim so went for a fresh water skins dip in Loch Suainabhal instead. Duckman was saying 6.5c on average. 750 metres @ 18 minutes.

30/12/2018

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Traigh Mhor Coastal Swim. Tolsta offers fantastic coastal swimming and I'll definitely be back for more, with caves, arches, sea and bird life. Amazingly stunning to see..Duckman was saying 8 degrees average. 23.12.2018..

23/12/2018

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1st Polar Bear challenge swim for December - 16.12.2018

16/12/2018

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Last minute decision to head down to Coll beach and get in my first Polar Bear swim in December. Duckman was saying anything from 5.2c to 7.7c depending where I was (warmer as usual in front of the sea wall). 4c on land. 700metres @ 16mins

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Nice relaxing swim with Ed this morning down at Battery Park Bay. Swam across and back. Nice reef in the middle. Plenty of sea life on the go. Duckman was saying anything from 7.4c (over at sandwick side) to 9.3c. 1km @ 24mins.

8/12/2018

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Photo's from Rebecca's & Kath's wedding at Hathersage Lido. Met a fantastic bunch of people and had a cracking swim too. First time in a lido at the ripe old age of 46. Duckman was saying 27.5c (pool thermometer was saying 28c) 02.12.2018

2/12/2018

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Swimming through the waves at Garry beach this morning with Chris who is up on holiday from Uist. Sea was too wild to try a swim in to the sea stack cave. Duckman was saying 9.2 degrees. 500 metres at 20 minutes.

25/11/2018

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North Lochs swim/walk - 18.11.2018

18/11/2018

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North Lochs swim/walk with Grant & Stuart. Beautiful November morning for a wee adventure swim over in Ranish. Stunning scenery from up on Beinn Mhor, then swimming in with the tide in to Loch Grimshader. Duckman was saying anything from 7.3 to 8.3 degrees. A grand day out for sure. 8.9km @ 3hr 44 minutes.

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Last pre work swim of the year due to dwindling daylight. Walked up the beach to just short of the river and swam back down. Cracking sky with the sun coming up. Duckman was saying 9.4 degrees. 500 metres @ 12 minutes

16/11/2018

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A wee splash about in the waves before work this morning, at Coll Beach. Trying the time lapse again. The 3 seals popped their heads up to say hello. Duckman was saying 8 degrees. 500 metres @ 11 minutes.

9/11/2018

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Polar Bear Challenge, swim 2 completed - 07.11.2018

7/11/2018

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Quick pre work trunks swim at Coll beach this morning. Had 3 seals for company (spot them in the photo's). Tried to do a time lapse video but it didn't really work as I was swimming a bit far out to see me. Car park is looking much better now, thanks to whoever leveled it out. Duckman was saying a balmy 9 degrees. 1km @ 20 minutes. Ps. Also had a beach clean, tidying up someones leftover fireworks.
Polar Bear Challenge, swim 2 completed

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Polar Bear Challenge, swim 1 completed - 02.11.2018

2/11/2018

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Friday morning pre work skins swim. Sand was frosty underfoot and you could hear it crunching. Birds playing about in the sea and also had a couple of seals for company. Duckman was saying 7.2 degrees. 1km @ 20 minutes. Polar Bear Gold Challenge , swim 1 completed.

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Felt a chill in the air & sea this morning. Back to skins swimming, well it was more of a splash about in the water at Coll beach. Thanks to Mhairi for the company. Duckman was saying a bracing 7.1 degrees. 100 Metres @ 5mins..

31/10/2018

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Postman's walk/swim/walk - 28.10.2018

28/10/2018

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Postman's walk/swim/walk with Stuart. Cracking day for an adventure swim down in Harris via the old Postman's walk. We walked from Urgha to Molinginis, then swam round to Loch Trolamaraig and then rejoined the Postman's path walking past the abandoned village of Gearraidh Lotaigear up to the finish point on the Rhenigidale road. We saw Porpoises, a seal, an eagle and plenty of other bird life too. Duckman was saying 10.2 degrees. We certainly have fantastic scenery around our islands....

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Monday Evening swim - 15.10.2018

15/10/2018

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Just had to get back in the sea today as it was a cracking Autumn day on the island. Duckman was saying 11 degrees. Went round in loops and enjoyed the relaxing after work swim wearing my cracking new swim cap. 1km @ 22 mins.

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Coll Beach Swim - 07.10.2018

7/10/2018

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A wet, windy & wavy Coll Beach. Was like an endless pool swimming up the way. Took me twice as long as usual but I enjoyed the slog. Was worthwhile as was free wheeling on the way back and it's good experience too, swimming in the waves. it's not always going to be calm. Duckman was saying 10.2 degrees average. 3km @ 1hr 13 mins.

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A swim with Mike Wells - 28.09.2018

28/9/2018

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A special morning swim with writer/swimmer Mike Wells today, who is visiting the isles from Brighton. We swam from the Beasts of Holm to the bay at Millar Road. Mike is going to be writing a story about the Iolaire disaster. Duckman was saying 10 degrees average. 4.53km @ 1hr23mins

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Good morning swim with Mike (who's up on holiday) & Mhairi at Coll beach. A lot calmer than last week for sure, so we got a lap done. Duckman was saying 11.1 degrees. 2.76km @ 53 minutes

26/9/2018

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Saturday swim down at Vatisker beach with Grant, Elspeth & Alasdair. Good fun in the waves and watching the surfers further along the beach. Duckman was saying 11 degrees.

22/9/2018

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A quick pre work skins swim this morning with Mhairi, before Storm Ali hits. Walked up the beach and swam with the current back, good fun in the waves. Duckman was saying 11.2 degrees. 1.21km @ 19 minutes.

19/9/2018

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Sunday Outing - 16.09.2018

16/9/2018

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Stuart and myself had a great walk around the coast from Gress towards Sialabhig Mor beach. Some scenery even on a wet & windy day. Mostly walking with a bit of caving and arch swimming, then we swam round to land on the beach. Duckman was saying 11.4 degrees. 8.13km overall @ 3hours 41 minutes. We'll be back in decent weather for a full on coastal swim.....

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A few photo's of this mornings skins swim at Coll beach. Duckman was saying 11.3 degrees but it felt colder than that for sure. Beautiful sky took my mind of the dark sea up near the river. Harassed by a gull just as I was getting out. 2.64km @ 59 mins

14/9/2018

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Coastal swim explore from Giordail beach round to Traigh Mhor with Stuart, Ed, Norma & Laura. Natural arch, caves, tunnels, wildlife galore, stunning rock faces. Amazing scenery all round. Duckman was saying 13.9 degrees.

8/9/2018

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Good to be out with swimming with brother Grant again. Nice Mill-pond conditions, though we got a bubble bath/shampoo taste in the water near the end of the wall, which was odd. Duckman was saying 12.2 degrees. 2.73km @ 60 mins

7/9/2018

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Great to be back in the trunks again after a summer in the suit. Only time for 1 lap of the beach these days. Thanks to Mhairi for coming along. Fantastic way to kick off the day. Duckman was saying 11.8 degrees. 2.54km @ 46 minutes.

5/9/2018

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Down the 88 steps to a lovely sheltered bay - Geodha nan Eathraichean (Boats Gully). Thanks to Elspeth for coming along. We did some coastal swim exploring around some coves. Water so clear and the sea so calm. Duckman was saying 13 degrees.

1/9/2018

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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 650 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!

Colin S Macleod

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