Don’t be fooled by the breathtaking beauty of the rainbow sky. This is the North Sea in Scotland in January and is just as cold as you would imagine! I’ve been swimming here (and elsewhere) since my 43rd birthday, never quite feeling comfortable with the cold shock of getting into the water but inexplicably returning again and again. The wetsuit I started in was quickly jettisoned in my desire to be able to get dry and dressed as fast as possible so now I just wear an ordinary swimsuit with neoprene gloves and socks.

For someone who has always struggled with levelled emotionality it really does meet a need for that extreme end of the spectrum in a way that connects rather than alienates me from others. The thrill of the sunrise coupled with the almost overwhelming full body sensations of adjusting to the icy water allows me to feel completely alive, exploring the edges of my experience.

For me its not just the water temperature. You wouldn’t find me having cold showers or plunging myself into the shock pool at the spa. I’m less enthusiastic on a dreich day and rarely choose to swim outwith sunrise or sunset. Its all about the sky and only a little bit about the water.