Wild Swimming
Loch Ness — Dores Beach
Dores Beach on the northern end of Loch Ness is Scotland's most famous swim — equal parts spectacular and humbling. At 240 metres deep and 37km long, this is a genuinely serious wild-swim environment. The water barely exceeds 13°C at peak summer. The gravel beach at Dores village gives easy access to the north shore, with views the entire length of the Great Glen toward Fort Augustus. The Dores Inn serves a post-swim pint to complete the experience.
Quick facts
- Type
- Loch
- Region
- Inverness & The Great Glen
- Grid ref
- NH 601 353
- Entry
- Gravel / pebble
- Depth
- Deep (over head near entry)
- Summer water temp
- 6–13°C
- Midges
- Moderate
- Dogs
- Off-lead OK
Key hazards
- very cold water year-round
- cold water shock
- extreme depth (240m max) — stay close to shore
- boat traffic
Getting there
Village car park at Dores (IV2 6TR). The beach is 50m from the car park. Dores Inn nearby. Great Glen Way passes through the village. SOAC rights apply.
Parking postcode: IV2 6TR
Safety
Loch Ness is one of the coldest swimmable lochs in Scotland — never exceeds 13°C. Cold water shock is a real risk even in August. This is not a swim for beginners. Wear a wetsuit and a tow float. Stay within 50m of the shore — the depth drops to over 100m very rapidly. Never attempt a long crossing.
Best for
- cold-water training
- tick-it swim
- Great Glen Way stopover
Nearby
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:10
- Sunset
- 21:18
- Civil dawn
- 04:19
- Civil dusk
- 22:08
NOAA Solar Calculator · 9 May 2026
Common questions
- How cold is Loch Ness?
- Very cold. The surface reaches around 12–13°C at peak summer (late July–August) but rarely warmer. Below the thermocline it stays near 5°C year-round. A wetsuit is essential for any swim beyond a quick dip.
- Is there a monster in Loch Ness?
- No documented evidence. The loch is vast, very dark, and the peat-stained water limits visibility to less than 1m — which is part of what makes swimming here feel genuinely wild.
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