Wild swimming has been gaining in popularity across Scotland, with an interest in enjoying lochs, lochans and rivers in a whole new way increasing over the past few years as Sots re-embrace the outdoors.
Now, a new online resource is set to launch which offers wild swimming enthusiasts advice and reviews on the best locations for dip.
With people enjoying the physical and mental health benefits of the new pastime, the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has teamed up with open water coaching and events firm SwimWild to produce the new resource.
Dr Malcolm Clark of Moray College UHI in Elgin said wild swimming had offered many people an enjoyable escape during the "horrible pandemic".
Speaking about the online resource, he explained that people would be able to use it to offer info on the accessibility of locations and offer their view on their swimming experiences.
He added: "Mental health and wellbeing has come to the forefront of our minds due to the pandemic and the subsequent recovery."
Hoping to launch the new resource by the start of next year, Alice Goodridge, the founder of SwimWild and an experienced long-distance swimmer and coach, said there would be an emphasis on safety.
She said: "I am constantly being asked about safe swim locations and local swim groups as well as general safety information regarding swimming outdoors.
"I think a portal that can help people find the answers they are looking for and provide better access to location-based information about swim safety in Scotland is severely lacking at the moment."
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