What is the meeting point?

The exact meeting point is provided after booking; organisers send details and a final briefing 48 hours before departure.

Who can join this swim?

Confident swimmers aged 16+ who can comfortably swim 5km in open water; inexperienced swimmers are not suitable.

What happens in bad weather?

Trips are weather-dependent—organisers will reschedule or refund if conditions are unsafe; confirm plans 48 hours ahead.

Is support provided on the water?

Yes—guides, supporting kayaks or safety boats accompany the group and carry basic first-aid and communications kit.

Can I bring non-swimming friends?

This booking is for active participants only; non-swimmers should arrange a separate boat or shore-based visit.

What about cancellations and refunds?

Full refund or future credit is available if cancellation is requested at least 24 hours before the activity.

Inchtavannach Return Swim: 5km Challenge in Loch Lomond

Adventure Brief

Cut a 5km loop around Inchtavannach in the clear, cold waters of Loch Lomond—an intimate, guided endurance swim for confident distance swimmers. Expect guided safety, freshwater wildlife sightings and a route confirmed 48 hours before departure.

3 Hours

challenging

From £132.50

Loch Lomond’s Inchtavannach island sits in the heart of Scotland’s largest freshwater loch, and the Inchtavannach Return Swim – 5km offers a direct, purposeful way to experience this iconic water. Departing from a meeting point given after booking, swimmers follow a return route that threads around the island, cutting through clear, cool water and past steep, rocky shores for an all-in-one endurance loop. The route: a roughly 5-kilometre open-water swim that leaves little room for complacency. Expect rolling chop when the wind shifts, sudden shifts in water temperature and close passage by granite and metamorphic shorelines carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age. The finishing line is always the boat pick-up or shore you started from; the group caps at ten swimmers, so the experience feels private and focused. What makes this trip sing is the collision of raw loch scenery with straightforward swim coaching and safety. You are never alone: guides monitor spacing, sighting and pace while supporting kayaks or safety boats follow the line. Unlike crowded coastal swims, the island loop presents long, clear sightlines across deep freshwater where otters and dabbling waterfowl may skid by and the occasional osprey wheels overhead. Vegetation on the island and nearby shores includes stunted Scots pine and heather clinging to steep crags, evidence of a landscape that’s both exposed and enduring. This swim sits inside Loch Lomond’s broader recreation scene and benefits from the protections of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (established 2002), which helps preserve water quality and shoreline character. Historically, islands in the loch like Inchtavannach hosted seasonal crofting and small-scale grazing; today they offer quiet refuges for wildlife and adventurous swimmers. Practical details matter: this is for confident distance swimmers who can complete five kilometres comfortably in open water. Bookings include briefing and guided support; the exact meeting point is supplied after reservation. Weather governs all departures—organisers confirm plans 48 hours ahead—so flexibility and a solid wetsuit are essential. The route’s technical demand is low in terms of navigation, but constant open-water conditions require steady pacing, bilateral breathing and group awareness. Why book? If you want a compact, accountable endurance swim that combines raw Highland water, guided safety and an island-centric route, this trip delivers. It’s a chance to measure yourself against Loch Lomond’s deep, cold clarity while moving through a landscape shaped by ice, stone and history—exactly the kind of honest, elemental adventure Scotland does best. Ideal for triathletes and open-water enthusiasts honing race fitness, the swim also makes a memorable introductory expedition for seasoned sea-swimmers who want freshwater distance. Guides carry flotation, first-aid and communication kit; participants are expected to use tow-floats and a neoprene cap. Book early—slots fill quickly, especially in summer.

About Inchbaggers Open Water Swimming

Inchbaggers Open Water Swimming operates from Alexandria, Scotland, offering guided open-water swims on Loch Lomond and surrounding waters. The team provides a range of swims from short beginner sessions to long crossings, including supervised swims to islands such as Fraoch, Inchtavannach, Inchmurrin and Swan. Activities include kayak-accompanied swims, social Sunday morning swims, and introductions to open-water safety and technique. Sessions are led by experienced open-water guides who prioritise safety, buoyancy support, and clear briefings. Equipment and safety protocols are used to manage conditions and swimmer confidence; swimmers receive guidance on pacing, sighting and cold-water acclimatisation.

The business caters to beginners, nervous swimmers, and experienced endurance swimmers, with scalable distances including 200m, 800m, 1.25km, 2–7km and bespoke escorted crossings. Meeting points and logistics are organised from shore locations such as Ben Lomond beach at Rowardennan and Inveruglas, with launches or sailboats used when required for longer swims. Inchbaggers works within local regulations and Loch Lomond site guidance to minimise environmental impact and respect land and water access. Booking information and trip details are published for each swim so participants can choose appropriate routes and fitness levels. The business places emphasis on clear communication, trained safety cover, and enjoyable scenic experiences on Europe’s largest inland loch. Participants are encouraged to check specific trip descriptions, suitability notes and weather-dependent arrangements before booking. Guides provide pre-swim briefings, on-water supervision and post-swim feedback to help swimmers progress; all sessions emphasise personal comfort, incremental challenge and respect for local wildlife and shoreline communities, and seasonal water-quality updates.