Midsummer Cruise and Swim at Loch Ness
Àban Outdoor partners with Loch Ness by Jacobite to offer once in a lifetime opportunity to swim Loch Ness at Urquhart Castle afterhours
Entry is now open to the Loch Ness Swim, an event that will give a unique opportunity to swim Urquhart Bay in Loch Ness on the shore of Urquhart Castle afterhours.
Taking place on the evening of Saturday 22nd June 2024, ahead of Midsummer’s Day and after the Summer Solstice, the event has been organised by outdoor education charity and social enterprise Àban Outdoor with Loch Ness by Jacobite providing boats to and from Urquhart Bay, and Historic Environment Scotland allowing access to the shore of Urquhart Castle.
With unique afterhours access, setting sail at 5.30pm, entrants will enjoy an hour’s sail on the famous loch, followed by an hour’s swimming in Urquhart Bay before the return sail to Dochgarroch – all against the backdrop of the iconic Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness.
“The Loch Ness Swim really is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” explains Johannes Petersen, Founder & CEO of Àban Outdoor. “Taking place at the peak of summer against the glow of golden hour lighting, the cruises and swim will be fantastic! And everyone from occasional dookers to seasoned swimmers can take part, completing laps at their own pace or resting on the shore of Urquhart Castle.
“I’d like to thank Historic Environment Scotland for allowing us access to Urquhart Castle’s shoreline and Loch Ness by Jacobite for putting on the cruises for our swimmers. The evening is set to be a memorable one for all involved.
A limited number of 150 places are available for the Loch Ness Swim, with entry available here.
Swimmers can complete as many or as few laps as they like around the buoyed course within the hour, leaving and re-entering the water from the shore at Urquhart Castle. Each swimmer will be provided with a timing chip for safety and timing purposes and a fleet of powerboats and kayaks will also be monitoring the safety of swimmers.
Colin Barber, Operations Manager at Loch Ness by Jacobite, said: “We’re delighted to support Àban Outdoor’s Loch Ness Swim this summer. We know how special Loch Ness is and we can’t wait to share it with even more people during this unique, one-off event.”
Euan Fraser, District Visitor & Community Manager (Urquhart Castle) at Historic Environment Scotland, added: “Urquhart Castle is one of the most visited castles in the country, but this fantastic event will give participants a rarely seen viewpoint after closing time. We hope that partnering with charity Àban Outdoor for the Loch Ness Swim will encourage everyone to get outdoors and explore our natural and historic environment.”
Those interested in entering the Loch Ness Swim can sign up now here. Entry costs £120, which includes cruises from Dochgarroch to Urquhart Bay and back, as well as a light meal on the return journey. Proceeds from ticket sales will go back into funding Àban Outdoor activities, which include weekly free-to-access outdoor youth groups for biking, mountaineering, and open water swimming.