FAQ

Unfortunately not. Staging the swim is a massive undertaking for us. We're a very small independent charity and the proceeds raised from the swim are vital for our long-term future. However we also want to share the success of the swim with other community organisations, particularly those local to Merkinch. That's why we pass on a £1,500 Community Partner grant from sponsorship funds raised to our Community Partner. The Community Partner is also asked to contribute volunteer time to the staging of the event, so it would be unfair to divert funds to other charities.

If there is a particular local cause you are passionate about, please tell us about it and it can be considered as a future Community Partner. Applications are open from July and are considered by our Independent Selection Panel before a final decision made in November of each year.

Previous Community Partners have been Friends of Merkinch Local Nature Reserve (2022) and Clachnacuddin F.C (2023).

Merkinch & South Kessock are residential areas. There simply isn't any suitable parking for hundreds of cars. If there was, we'd be using it! If hundreds of cars end up choking the quiet streets near the event centre it will really upset local residents, and rightly so. We've weighed up the options very carefully and come up with the best solution. Now we're relying on all our swimmers to help us out by following our parking instructions. If you're travelling from further afield, why not try to book accommodation within walking distance of the event centre?

The final option only applies if you have mobility problems (or another valid reason). You can be dropped off at the South Kessock turning circle. Please add a free 'Drop Off Permit' ticket to your basket when entering. Please note that this is not a shuttle bus service from the Carse Industrial Estate. The drop-off permit just allows someone to drop you off.

Please read the full terms and conditions before you pay. The short version is:

• There is an initial 14 day cooling off period when you can get a refund minus a £10 admin charge. After that it is no longer possible to get a refund.

• Up until 5 days before the event, you can exchange your place with someone else, minus a £10 admin charge. After that time it will no longer be possible to exchange.

• If we cancel the event (for example due to high winds) it will not be possible to reschedule and there is no right to a refund. The tide timings make it impossible to reschedule.

• We acknowledge that this is a strict policy. It is unfortunately the only way that this event can be made financially viable. In common with many similar charitable events, we have to protect our finances once we have paid out large sums for various services required to put on the event.

There is a long history of swimming in the Beauly Firth, though it is not listed by Scottish Environment Protection Agency as a Bathing Water location. There are Bathing water locations further out in the Moray Firth at Rosemarkie & Nairn. Every year since 2014, SEPA have classified the surface water in the Beauly Firth as "High Quality", the highest classification. Ultimately though, as with many outdoor swimming locations, we have no way of guaranteeing the water quality for swimming.

Based on existing data the Beauly Firth will be approx. 12 degrees celsius.

We advise people not to swim at the exact location of the event due to the tides. We do extensive planning and have a safety team to make the crossing possible for the event. Good practice locations would be some of our local lochs e.g. Loch Ness, or if you want tidal, salt water conditions, then Nairn or Rosemarkie are good local beaches.

If you're fundraising online, only use the Just Giving platform. Other platforms create serious bookkeeping headaches for us! If you prefer to use a good old-fashioned paper sponsorship form, we have a template for you to download here.

The event could be cancelled at the very last moment due to e.g high winds. It is impossible to reschedule the event due to the tide timings. There is a 14 day cooling off period after you purchase an entry. After the cooling-off period has passed we operate a very strict cancellation & refund policy in order to safeguard the finances of our small charity. Please ensure you read Section 5 of the T&C's in full before booking.

• There is no allocated seating for spectators but you are absolutely welcome to bring a chair.
• Refreshments are available from the old ticket office, teas, coffees, cakes etc. You are also welcome to bring your own. Unfortunately we don't have a license to sell food at the event centre so this is for participants only.
• There will be a couple of portaloos by the turning circle.

The swim route starts at South Kessock pier. There are two turn points marked with giant orange swim buoys. You'll start by swimming out towards the North Kessock pier. Just before you reach the pier you'll make your first turn right towards the Kessock Bridge. You'll then swim a short distance to the second buoy before making another turn right to head for the finish back at the South Kessock pier. See the map pictured below.

We reserve the right to amend the swim route on the day. For example, high winds may make the crossing unsafe, but we may still be able to offer a safe alternative route which hugs the coast without going over to North Kessock. Please see Section 5 of the terms & conditions for full details.

Event Timetable

0645 Car park & bike park open

0700 Registration open

0845 Registration closes, all swimmers go to the pier

0900 Mandatory safety brief for all swimmers

0915 Estimated start (may vary slightly according to tidal conditions on the day)

1000 Light bite and drinks begin at the event centre...

1015 Outgoing tide running faster - last swimmers out of the water

1045 (Approx) Raffle & Presentations

'Timed' swimmers will be directed to the end of the pier nearest the water and will start first. 'Non-Timed' swimmers will be held further up the pier, and will start shortly after the timed swimmers.

The event centre will have the following facilities:

• Secure patrolled cycle parking
• Toilet facilities
• Male & female changing villages (not individual cubicles)
• "Dip area": a nice little beach adjacent to the pier where you can acclimatise just before the swim start
• Event registration
• Catering - to pick up your hot drink & light meal after the swim
• Trade stands
• Community charity information stands
• Visit the Old Ferry Ticket Office

You have four options for travel to the event centre. Event Location

• The best option for most swimmers and their supporters will be to walk or cycle. There will be a secure bike park by the event centre.
• Stagecoach buses 3 and 3A come to Kessock Road, adjacent to the Event Centre.
• If coming by car, the nearest parking is in the Telford & Glendoe Retail Park at Go Outdoor, The Job Centre, Stirling Furniture and Poundland. Postcode for your satnav is IV3 8DL. It is 2km from here to the event centre, around a 20-30 minute walk. Quite a long way, but it is a peaceful and scenic walk along the Caledonian Canal and through the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve. Please note there is absolutely no parking in the residential areas closer to the event centre. Doing so will harm community relations and jeopardise the future of the event.
• The final option only applies if you have mobility problems (or another valid reason). You can be dropped off at the South Kessock turning circle. Please add a free 'Drop Off Permit' ticket to your basket when entering. Please note that this is not a shuttle bus service from the Carse Industrial Estate. The drop-off permit just allows a friend to drop you off.

South Kessock: Please do come along to spectate. This year we won't be able to offer catering for spectators in the marquee, but you will be able to pop into the Old Ticket Office.

North Kessock: again, you're so welcome to come and spectate.

"For residents, we want to thank you for patience. It is inevitable that the event will disturb your peace a bit. Our hope is that the boost to local businesses and local charity will make up for it. We really want to stop our participants from clogging up your streets with their cars, and we have done everything we can on that front. If you'd like to spectate, please do come down and join in with this local tradition. If something really does go wrong, please come to find us and we will personally do all we can to put it right."