Thousands to swim Loch Lomond in Great Scottish Swim

Olympian Keri-Anne Payne has launched this year’s Great Scottish Swim, to be held at Loch Lomond for the first time.

Keri-Anne Payne tests the waters of Loch Lomond as she launches the biggest open water swimming event in Scotland, the Great Scottish Swim. Picture: PA

About 2,000 people are expected to take part in the open water event in August.

Payne, an Olympic silver-medallist and 10k open water world champion, will join participants for the event part of the Great Swim, Europe’s biggest open-water swimming series.

“I’ve taken part in a few of the Great Swim series events around the country but never in Scotland before and I’m really excited to participate in the first-ever Loch Lomond event,” she said.

“Open water can seem daunting for a lot of people, but it really is a great feeling to swim in freshwater, especially when you have such stunning scenery as Loch Lomond.”

European and Commonwealth gold-medallist Iwan Thomas will also swim. He said: “I have taken part in triathlons, so I’m no stranger to a wetsuit, but it will be amazing to swim in a location like Loch Lomond.”