MBChB student Ruby Ramsay explores some of the best swimming spots around Edinburgh.
Growing up in north-east England, just a stone’s throw from the North Sea, meant that every Boxing Day started with slathering on goose fat and a bobble hat to run into the icy waves in minimal clothing.
I didn’t dip my toes into cold water swimming again until my 3rd year in Edinburgh when my flatmate Issy brought her car up from home and suddenly the world was our oyster. With more time on our hands during our intercalation, we spent our weekends piling into ‘Cindy’, Issy’s powder blue beetle, and heading to various beaches around the city for a swim. This initially began with us attending Blue Tits, the university’s wild swimming society. I’d really recommend going along to one of their swims if you’re just starting your wild swimming journey.
Adrenaline and joy
Wild swimming still brings back all of the exhilaration and positivity of those Boxing Day dips. I find it such an addictive feeling – a mixture of the adrenaline and joy I feel afterwards coupled with a reminder that I can do hard things.
I think this is particularly useful in medicine. It’s a great form of self care and a lovely little break – perfect before a library day. I really find that it improves my mood and motivation throughout the whole day. It’s so important to keep up hobbies when studying medicine. Remember, you can’t look after anyone else before you look after yourself!
One particularly memorable swim was during the depths of exam season in 4th year. We joined a mass sunrise swim at Portobello for International Women’s Day and it was the most wonderful, body positive, supportive environment. As the sun rose over Portobello, the sea was filled with strong women and our hearts were so full. We headed back to the library for a long study day so recharged and determined.
Safety tips
I definitely don’t claim to be a professional but there are a few safety tips that are important to think about. Firstly, ensure you’re a strong swimmer if you’re going to wild swim. Follow local advice on beaches, particularly regarding riptides, and check weather forecasts before swimming. Cold water shock is real and dangerous – educate yourself on the signs and symptoms and in winter don’t stay in the water for more minutes than the degrees of the water temperature (e.g. three minutes if the water is 3 degrees Celsius). Do make sure you swim in groups and in the daylight!
Best swimming spots
On to the exciting bit: my favourite swimming spots around Edinburgh!
Firstly, of course, Portobello beach. It’s easy to get to from the city centre and you can even add a dip onto the end of a run – it’s only a 5km route from Newington. It is a very busy beach year-round so do bear this in mind, but great to start your wild swimming journey. There are also lots of great food spots – Babyfaced Baker and Civerinos are my favourites.
Wardie bay is one of my personal favourites. It’s a bit less scenic than some of the other picks on the list but it is the perfect swimming beach – not too many waves and the water is really clean. You can also see all of the aeroplanes around Edinburgh Airport flying overhead which makes for a really dramatic backdrop. There’s lots of cosy pubs near the beach to warm up in afterwards.
Gullane is an idyllic little spot that we visited this summer. It’s a classic yellow sandy beach and has the cutest little ice cream van with the friendliest staff working. It’s definitely worth exploring the town as well, there are so many lovely houses to look at!
Finally, North Berwick has to be my number one favourite. We visited this beach in May as part of our post-exam celebrations and it really felt like the South of France. It has the best café – Drift – just nearby. You can follow the winding little path down the side of the cliff to the beach just next to Drift, before heading there to warm up with the most delicious cakes (plus lots of vegan options) and coffees/hot chocolates. This is a further drive from Edinburgh (around 50 minutes from Newington) but in my opinion so worth the journey.
I can’t wait to spend 5th year exploring more beaches and lochs, especially with more peripheral placements around Scotland!
