Thousands to swim Loch Lomond in Great Scottish Swim

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

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

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.”