I just returned from the Hebridean Swim Odyssey. It was epic, an absolute dream, and, honestly, one of the best experiences of my life! A massive shoutout to Emma and Rachel- these two brilliant women did a phenomenal job creating an environment where I felt completely safe, deeply supported, and-as a masters swimmer-appropriately challenged by some serious cold-water swims. We had the incredibly rare opportunity to swim into Fingal's Cave on Staffa Island. Swimming inside those 59 million years old basalt columns-the exact spot that inspired Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave overture- was a total "pinch-me" moment. Between being accompanied by dolphins on the boat trip to Staffa, swimming near seals, getting fully immersed in the local culture of the Inner Hebrides, doing restorative yoga, hot tubbing and saunas, seeing double, full rainbows, driving alongside Highland Cows, and eating the most amazing healthy and fresh home-cooked food (prepared by yoga instructor/cook Emma), it was the perfect trip. Best of all, the company was fantastic-a wonderful, albeit small, group of like-minded people sharing an unforgettable experience. It is truly difficult to explain the Hebridean Swim Odyssey to people because it is much more than swimming in beautiful water and experiencing the sublime beauty of the Inner Hebrides; it is a wholistic retreat that revitalizes the mind, body, and spirit in ways I have never experienced before. If you've ever thought about doing a cold-water swim retreat, Emma and Rachel run the absolute best one.

I really enjoyed the experience. Rachel and Emma were such welcoming, knowledgeable guides and Anna’s food was absolutely delicious. Each swim was different and thoughtfully supported, which made it easy to push myself while still feeling completely safe. I met some wonderful people on the retreat and made new friends. It was a real adventure.

My second time on the Hebridean Odyssey retreat . I didn’t think it was possible to enjoy it more than the first but it probably surpassed the first trip! Highlights were - the exceptional beauty of Mull and Iona, very different from last year in weather and tides so the same beaches served up completely different swims. Also new places to explore on the dramatic north of the Ross of Mull - the wonderful welcoming cosy Achaban house and exquisite veggie food and baking from Anna -the care taken by Emma and Rachel over getting the swims (and coffee and cake stops) right for a group with different abilities and wishes and finally -the absolutely lovely group of women! I cannot recommend this experience highly enough - it’s a treat in every way. Emma and Rachel create an atmosphere that helps the group gel with their genuine enthusiasm and warmth. Don’t miss this!

I had a wonderful adventurous swimming holiday. It was a great balance between relaxation and challenge. Thank you to Emma and Rachel for organising it all so well.

This was my second swimming holiday with Wild Hebridean Swimming, and again it was a wonderful and lovely experience. This time, the emphasis was on snorkelling - it was great to see what was going on under the surface at the different beaches we went to. There were forests of kelp and bladderwrack, with schools of tiny fish (sand eels and others), some larger fish, crabs, small plaice darting across the seabed, and some star fish! That was in addition to the barnacles and limpets attached to the rocks, and periwinkles. We went on two boat trips. One on a beautiful sailing boat to a distant bay where we snorkelled. Mark, the skipper, was friendly and interesting about how the sails worked, and provided very welcome hot drinks when we back on board. The other boat trip was to Staffa – again a highlight for me. We could land this time, though again the waves were too strong to swim into Fingal's Cave. But it was so fascinating just to walk along the top of basaltic columns, which have been broken-off in the distant past, and now form a path on the edge of the main towering columns, around and into the cave. We also went to a sauna on the edge of a beach on Iona – with breaks from the heat to have a cold dip – most invigorating! Emma and Rachel are such great hosts, very helpful and friendly. I enjoyed staying in the comfortable house again, with Anna (the lovely chef) producing tasty meals morning, noon and evening, with packed lunches when we were out all day. It was another friendly group, with everyone being supportive and reassuring to each other. I enjoyed it all very much indeed – and I highly recommend it.