Travel writer Janey Swanson, who loves a five-minute dook, shares her favourite wild swimming locations in the Kingdom of Fife.
Take a dip at ‘The Bathie’, Cellardyke’s much-loved outdoor bathing pool, cut into the rocks and filled by the tide twice a day. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of seals, dolphins or even a sea eagle.
When the tide is high and the sea’s calm, the sheltered sandy beach beside Crail Harbour is excellent for swimming. And if the tide is right, you can combine an early morning dip with an hour of beach yoga. There’s also a good dookin’ spot at Roome Bay on the other side of the village, although swimming socks are advisable as there can be a lot of pebbles to contend with when getting into the water.
You don’t have to be at the seaside to enjoy open water swimming in Fife. Make a splash at Lochore Meadows, where early evening wild swimming sessions with safety cover are available from May until September.
As the tide comes in, float about in the sandy-bottomed inlets that lie between the flat slabs of rock on the shoreline.
Beautifully restored by the local community, this historic outdoor pool on the very edge of the sea offers the very best of tamed-down wild swimming!
Take a look at our wild swimming blog for hits and tips on taking the plunge in Fife.