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 8 weeks 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. 11 degrees celsius.

If you're fundraising online, only use the Give As You Live 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.

Our main aim is keep the wonderful community atmosphere which defines the Kessock Ferry Swim. We don't want to get any bigger - only better. To that end we will be providing the following improvements:

• Larger hi-vis buoys will be positioned at South Kessock to help sighting for the return leg
• Faster registration system
• Improved PA system on the pier
• Greater range of merchandise, available for sale on the day as well as online

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.