Swimming spot: Loch an Eilein, Cairngorms

With its fairytale castle, mountain scenery and ancient Caledonian pine forest, Loch an Eilein is the quintessential Highland swimming location. Alice Goodridge, author of Swimming Wild in Scotland, is your guide.

With its fairytale castle, spectacular mountain scenery and ancient Caledonian pine forest, Loch an Eilein really is the quintessential Highland swimming location. This used to be my lunchtime swim spot when I worked in an office down the road. Not many people can say they just popped out for a swim around a castle in their lunch break!

Loch an Eilein (pronounced Loch an Yellen) is Gaelic for ‘Loch of the Island’.

The castle on the island was probably built in the 14th century and added to in later centuries. It was used as a place of safety, where locals could hide from raiding clansmen who used the Thieves’ Road to sneak down into Strathspey to steal cattle.

The swim at Loch an Eilein

The best entry point is a short walk from the car park, opposite the castle. You can get in at the northern end of the loch (next to the car park), but you end up wading in very shallow water for about 50 metres.

From the car park, walk along the path towards the loch and when you get to the water, turn right and head along the main track for a few hundred metres until you see the castle on your left. The entry is somewhat rocky, with large stones underfoot. Protective footwear is essential.

Once you have negotiated the stones, it shelves off fairly rapidly around 10 metres from the shore. It is around 60 metres out to the castle. While this may seem doable for even novice swimmers, the channel across to the castle is very black and peaty which can be unnerving if you are not used to swimming in dark water.

The distance is around 300 metres if you swim a loop of the castle island and back to where you started. However tempting it is, please do not climb through the doorway and look around the castle island. The landowners are keen to prevent further deterioration of the castle ruins and keep the island as a sanctuary for nesting birds.

Getting to Loch an Eilein

The loch is well signed from the B970 between Inverdruie and Feshiebridge. There is a charge to park in the car park; the car park attendant tends to be there from around 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Alternatively, you could cycle from Aviemore (six kilometres each way).

Refreshments at Loch an Eilein

I usually take a hot drink with me for after my swim, but there are some great local options available courtesy of the Rothiemurchus estate.

• Loch an Eilein Gallery, Loch an Eilein. This little gallery showcases art from local craftspeople and also sells coffee, cold drinks and ice cream. Seasonal.
• The Barn at Rothiemurchus, Rothiemurchus Centre. Large cafe next to the Rothiemurchus Farm Shop. Lots of local produce and a good selection of cakes and hot drinks.

Swimming Wild in Scotland by Alice Goodridge is an informative and inspiring guidebook for both new and experienced wild swimmers, featuring over 100 of the best wild swimming spots across the Scottish mainland and islands. It will be in bookshops from 11 May and can be pre-ordered from adventurebooks.com or directly from the author at swimwilduk.com.

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