Kessock Ferry SwimSunday 6th July 2025, approx 9am

Updated: Wed 30 Apr 2025

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Back for 2025, we are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and welcoming new ones.

The Kessock Ferry Swim is a tidal swim across the Kessock Narrows

Follow the old ferry route between South & North Kessock, with easy entry & exit from the old pier

An Invernessian tradition dating back to 1946

Non-competitive event with the option for timing if you want it.

Supporting the local community in Merkinch & South Kessock

Helping to raise funds for local teenagers to get outdoors. Check out our outdoor youth clubs here: Projects - Àban

New for 2025 - Would you and your friends or colleagues enjoy a fun morning challenge together while raising money for Àban? Sign up as a team of four, for £100, with a minimum fundraising commitment of £500 between you. Contact kate@aban.scot for more information and a discount code.

    How far and fast do I need to swim?

    There's a reason you're going to feel an amazing buzz after you finish this swim. Like all tidal open water crossings, swimming the Kessock Narrows is inherently unpredictable. Each year our water safety team go through a painstaking process to determine the friendliest tidal window. You will be in safe hands but we can't guarantee the distance.

    You will have a maximum of 1 hour in the water. Expect to swim an absolute minimum of 1200m. You should be able to swim at least 1700m comfortably. Some swimmers have recorded distances up to 2000m. Essentially the slower you swim, the greater the impact of the tide, meaning a longer distance to cover. After 1 hour the tide starts to run faster and all swimmers will have to be out of the water.

    2024 Timed Swimmers: Official Times

    Unsure about the distance or sea environment? We are also hosting two practice swims with our swim coach Richard on the 21st May and 4th June.

    Click below for more info and to sign up!

    Sign up for a practice swim
    Keen to get involved but don't want to swim? Sign up to be a land based volunteer

    Parking & Event Map

    Event Sponsor

    This year we are proud to be working with the Black Isle Brewery to bring you the Kessock Ferry Swim.

    "The driving force behind what we do at Black Isle has always amounted to something much bigger than brewing great beer alone. We want to demonstrate that this can be done using naturally grown barley and hops, supporting organic farmers and growers who also care for the environment and their communities. We are delighted to be able to support Aban, with whom we share many key values, particularly in our vision for reconnecting young people with nature and the great outdoors.”

    Black Isle Brewery will be entering a very slow-paced team, as well as supplying alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers for swimmers and supporters on the day.

    2025 Community Partner - Merkinch Primary School Parent Council

    Merkinch Primary is the centre of the Merkinch Community. There is a role of 300 children all from the Merkinch area whose parents live and work there. The Parent Council are involved in frequent forms of community engagement such as Bingo nights, children's seasonal functions, fetes and fairs, car boots sales and the like.

    We are looking to raise funds so that our children can get great experiences while learning. We will use the £1500 Community Partner Grant to purchase educational material such as software and equipment the school requests. We will also use some of the funds to purchase essentials to enable our community functions. As Merkinch Primary school is classed as a deprived setting we are trying to raise funds so that the children within the school don't feel they are missing out on activities that other schools may experience and for days out that the kids have not had since pre covid.


    We are using SportIdent to manage our entries. The button below will open the booking page on their website.

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    Since we restarted the event in 2022, we have built up a friendly Facebook community where you can see photos, ask questions, meet other swimers and generally get excited for the event! Click here to join.