Kate Gillwood was born in Galashiels, Scotland, raised from three years old in Yorkshire, found herself in London for 30 years and eventually escaped back to Scotland. She was raised to swim in rivers (the Wharfe at Appletreewick, for example), open air pools (Otley) and the sea, so open water swimming is not new. She started taking part in organised events about 10 years ago, putting on a wetsuit for the first time for the Great Scottish Swim in 2011. Now living just a few minutes from Portobello beach, one of her favourite things is to start the day with a sneaky swim in her local waters. She also likes to explore new swimming spots and share what she finds. Now that lockdowns have eased, she’s exploring again with her campervan, Clova.

Probably like most of you I was excited to be able to choose to swim somewhere new once the restrictions lifted and of course it involved a trip in good old Clova. I have to say ‘jumping in and driving off’ is not really in our family make up. We now have a puppy Rudi, so I am blaming him. I have high hopes that I will be able to share stories of swimming with my dog, but I fear that may just be a fantasy, given he doesn’t even like going out in the rain!

Anyway, we eventually got ourselves into Clova and set off. I was in my happy place, barely enough underwear for the week but all the swimming gear I could possibly have needed.

We arrived at the campsite that sits in the glen at the head of Loch Lubnaig in the Trossacks. The river ambles past, but it teases with its apparent calmness. Once in, I realised there was a real pull, to the point where I was able to use it as an endless pool. I wasn’t keen on disturbing the ducks resting on the surface or waddling about on the stony beach, so I didn’t overdo it. It was refreshing to breathe out and take in the surrounding hills, which always look so good from water level.

And we moved on, as you do in a camper van.

I was excited to finally manage to meet a new ‘Instagram friend’, something I’ve not experienced before. We had planned to swim here for a long time: after I had seen blue70_girlfriday’s post it would have been rude not to. We met in the small car park having navigated a single track bumpy road, in the pouring rain, and waited for the clouds to pass.

The clouds passed, and we navigated (I yet again without flip flops) the stony beach into the cool, choppy water. It is a wider, flatter glen surrounded by lower hills, woods and coconut scented gorse at this, my favourite time of year.

At over three and a half miles long this loch is a very good swimming spot, popular with locals. It is surrounded by walks in the woods and a 16-mile circuit, part of which is the Great Trossachs Path. It is also linked with National Cycle route no.7 so all in all is a haven for many open air activities. Queen Victoria graced the south shore at Invertrossachs House in 1869. The loch now hosts open water events so keep an eye out for those but what really surprised me when I looked to my right was that this loch is now used as a compensation reservoir with an outlet dam.

It was exciting to experience meeting up with people I had only connected with online because of swimming. This is one of the things about outdoor swimming I am proud to be part of.

(The top picture is my new swimmy friend blue70_girlfriday)

We stayed at the Immervoulin caravan & camping park at the eastern side of the Trossachs, which was nice and quiet (partly due to it being midweek) so we were able to peacefully enjoy the view. We also experienced it as a very LGBT friendly place to stay which is always a consideration. The river Balvaig I swam in runs alongside the campsite and offers either a swim, SUP or kayak down into Loch Lubnaig. The nearest town is Callander and the A84 runs along the loch and campsite up the Strathyre village.

Loch Venachar was the other swim location which you can get to from Callander via the A81 then a right hand turn onto the Invertrossachs Road which you stay on all the way to the small car park on your right. Don’t let the fact that it is a dead end road put you off.

The Trossachs has a wealth of beautiful places to swim and I highly recommend a visit with your goggles.

If you have any suggestions of places I could swim email me on k.gillwood4@gmail.com or find me on Instagram @kategillwood4

Please also take a look at my new website: www.swimfreedom.co.uk

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An urban gem behind a sea wall

Jumping trout in the wind

Highland Adventure Part 1

Highland Adventure Part 2

Waterfalls of tea

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How to swim 8m in 15 minutes

Storms, floods and a shallow lagoon

A year in open water from lochs, orca trails and sea pools to the stacks of St Kilda

A weekend of clarity

A swim spot that can’t be named

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In the wake of an orca

Discovering neuks and crannies

Imported sand, piscinas naturales and a pool to myself

Swimming in the shadow of a famous castle

‘Sunny Dunny’ home of the red cliffs and long lost lidos

Where the land is low and the water bulls are loud

Lakes, mountains, poets and a bit of running

Last swim with a friend

Sweeping views, menacing swans and a rich history

Clear water, abandoned submarines and pink footed geese

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Where the crabs are blue