Q&A with Gilly McArthur, author of ‘The Beauty of Cold’

Outdoor swimming coach and cold water expert Gilly McArthur’s new book, The Beauty of Cold, is out this month, here she shares more

Tell us about your new book and why we will love it?

It’s simply a book about how to connect in a more immersive way to water in all its forms. Essentially, it’s about becoming more human through the lens of water. There are insights into the emerging science of cold water for wellbeing, born of my interest in it and my firsthand experience as a cold water coach and meditator. Woven through the text are stunning, calming photographs and the words string myths and folklore into prompts for practice.

I share tips that have helped me that will be new to many folks. My hope is the book will support personal and community resilience as the world wobbles on its axis – to find shared purpose to care more and leave it better. It’s about finding a deeper connection to yourself, our communities, and the natural environment we are part of.

What is your relationship with swimming?

I love the knowledge I hold to swim safely in all types of water and conditions. I prefer adventure swims – big seas with huge horizons. As a rock climber, I also love seeking places up high in mountains. Sleepy rivers and waterfalls with just a handful of people. I do cherish long sea swims, rarely wear a wetsuit, but when I do, I love it for its buoyancy and extended swim time. I can see the powerful draw and huge benefits for so many, but large swim events are not for me. That’s the climber in me coming out!

As a coach, I really only work with folks who are curious to take their first step towards water for wellbeing, rather than to coach technique. It’s a huge honour to share the water with people in this way. I’ve been part of the research crew as a coach for the NHS Outside2 studies – this work makes me so happy, and I know the impact it has in helping people feel human again. Many go on to enter swim events and become mentors for others – the ripple effect we can all have as a community of water bodies is huge.

How does swimming/water inspire your work?

I prefer to write in a way to feel part of the body, my own and the water, not extracted from it, so in that regard it’s a more sensory journey. Peppered throughout The Beauty of Cold, there are short “Scrapbook stories” that I enjoyed writing immensely. They tell of eel journeys and bumble bees, grizzly bears, caves and ice, of bad swims and very bad choices. On the days when I woke up with words spilling out of my head and onto my pillow these stories of water had me tapping at my keyboards till the wee small hours. I have a few small vials of water on my desk from various retreats – it has water from across the globe. It’s magic.

Where is your favourite place to swim?

The next swim! Really, my most cherished swims are in my homeland. Sea swims off the west coast of Scotland will always have a home etched on my heart, and where I go to when I am in a city!

Can you tell us about what you are currently working on…

I’m in the very early steps of another book but for now it’s getting back to some climbing for me – and my own journey with mediation and adventurers in my mind. I’m really looking forward to sharing my bookwith swimmers.