Wild Swimming around Balmacara

From mountain lochans, to crystal clear seas, The west coast is truly a wild swimming and cold water swimming paradise. Coastal swims exploring small islands, coasteering, river bugging, or a post walk cool off in a crystal clear stream, the choice is yours !

Auchtertyre Hill Lochan
About 2 hrs walk from the house up the hill opposite Coillemore House. It starts on the paths then requires a scramble up the bank to get to the trig point at the top. The lochan is just before the trig point. Its not massively deep but great for a cool off after the exertion of the hill climb and the views are incredible from an almost negative edge natural pool.

Killilan Falls
(20 mins drive)
A drive up to Sallachy and on to Killilan House. Park in the estate carpark, just past a small road bridge, then walk back to the bridge and follow the river up the hill. After around 1.5 to 2 miles you reach the end of the path at a waterfall. You can jump off the rocks at the side into the waterfall as its plenty deep enough. If you take an inflatable ring you can also float downstream to where you started to save the walk back !.

Coral Beach, Plockton
(10 mins drive)
Turn left after the railway bridge en-route to Plockton. Then follow the road down over the cattle grid and turn left at the “Off the Croft” farm. Round the bend you will find the car park and a sign down to the beach. Swimming is best at high tide when the water has warmed up on the sand.

Drumbuie
(10 mins Drive)
Great for a sunset swim, a paddleboard or just a walk along the headland path. Enter Drumbuie and follow the road until you see a large green agricultural shed with a gate to the right hand side. Park there and walk down to the beach following the track accross the railway line.

Torrin Pools (Isle of Skye)
(50 mins drive)
The Torrin Pools are located, you’ve guessed it, near Torrin on the Elgol-Broadford road. If you are heading towards Elgol you need to go through the small township of Torrin. Drive until the road levels and starts to follow the edge of Loch Slapin. After a very short distance a burn crosses underneath the road. You will see a metal barrier on the right hand side. This is the spot you need to be for the very hidden Torrin Pools. Drive over the small bridge and park on some gravel on the right hand side of the road. On a map this burn is the Allt Aisridh and the Allt an t-Sratha Bhig. The two burns converge into the pools.

Fairy Pools (Isle of Skye)
(1hr 15mins drive)
The best known of all the stream dips on Skye. Can get very busy in summer. Recommended to visit out of the summer season if possible.