Leading cold-water swimming expert to speak in Whitley Bay

We know it’s not bikes, but we know there are plenty of you that like a spot of wild swimming – plus there’s a whole host of adventure films to be viewed during the evening. Plan your night out in North Tyneside on 9th June now!

An inspirational cold-water swimmer is visiting the Playhouse in Whitley Bay to talk about her exploits in the water, and how this links to her background as a talented rock climber and illustrator.

Gilly McArthur, whose exploits have featured in newspapers, magazines and now a recent film, is speaking as part of the Kendal Mountain Festival UK Tour and will share her heart-warming and enlightening story of a career that has also brought her face-to-face with life-changing loss and grief.

The 50-year-old Lake District-based outdoor enthusiast is co-founder of Blue Mind Swim, which coaches and mentors those keen to discover cold water skin (no wetsuit) swimming, and how the pursuit is strongly tied to mental wellbeing. McArthur says that, in the winter, she loves the challenge of seeking icy tarns high up in the mountains; “I particularly like swimming beside places I would normally climb in the summer months”, she says.

A climber all her life, McArthur is also co-founder of the rock climbing Women’s Trad Festival based in the Peak District near Sheffield, formed on the values of mental wellbeing, accessibility and sustainability, and she is part of the team at Wonderful Wild Women in Cumbria, which aims to inspire others to get outside running, biking, swimming or hiking.

In 2021 the film Body Of Water followed McArthur through a winter of wild swimming, reflecting on her mental and physical journey to seek out remote, icy waters, providing a window into a world that many can’t comprehend, and illustrating why the pursuit is so compelling and full of joy for those who are bold enough to try it.

Taylor will be speaking at the Playhouse, on 9 June. Tickets are available via the Tour website.

Can’t make this date? Here’s the rest of the Tour:

Nottingham: Wednesday 15th June
Exeter: Thursday 16th June
Llanelli: Friday 17th June
Canterbury: Wednesday 22nd June
Brighton: Thursday 23rd June
Kings Lynn: 24th June
Kendal: Wednesday 29th June

Better than half price deals

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.