Gilly McArthur: The Lake District's ice swimmer and rock climber

Gilly McArthur: The Lake District’s ice swimmer and rock climber

If you’ve ever wanted to go and live in the Lake District, this episode might be just the motivation you need!

My guest is Gilly McArthur and she’s a wild swimmer, rock climber, illustrator and organiser of outdoors events, who lives in Kendal in the Lake District.

An ambassador for the outdoors community Wonderful Wild Women, Gilly also runs the Women’s Trad Festival for people interested in rock climbing. And for the past couple of years, Gilly has gone wild swimming every day in January to raise money for the mental health charity Mind. She’s even swum in lakes covered by ice!

It’s all a long way away from her previous life working in corporate business in New York.

Gilly McArthur: The Lake District’s ice swimmer and rock climber

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If you’ve ever wanted to go and live in the Lake District, this episode might be just the motivation you need!

My guest is Gilly McArthur and she’s a wild swimmer, rock climber, illustrator and organiser of outdoors events, who lives in Kendal in the Lake District.

An ambassador for the outdoors community Wonderful Wild Women, Gilly also runs the Women’s Trad Festival for people interested in rock climbing. And for the past couple of years, Gilly has gone wild swimming every day in January to raise money for the mental health charity Mind. She’s even swum in lakes covered by ice!

It’s all a long way away from her previous life working in corporate business in New York.

(Photo of Gilly McArthur by James Kirby)

I’d planned to visit Gilly and record her episode by Lake Windermere, but then coronavirus happened, so we chatted from our homes instead. This episode was recorded on March 18, just before the full lockdown, but when restrictions were starting to be put in place.

I wanted to ask Gilly about how she navigated her way to an outdoors life and career, why she loves ice swimming so much and how the outdoors has helped her during two unbelievably difficult moments in her life.

(Gilly McArthur rock climbing. Photo by Ian Parnell)

I hope you enjoy the podcast episode and Gilly’s story. Listen out for her tips for cold water swimming at the end of the podcast, as well as the relaxing minute of sounds from nature, recorded by some of you, the listeners!

You’ll find Gilly on Instagram @gillymcarthur.

If would be fantastic if you could rate, review and subscribe to the podcast – it really helps other people discover it – and please feel free to spread the word to your family and friends!

Thanks!

Liv x

(Photo: One of Gilly McArthur’s illustrations about wild swimming)

If you have been affected by any of the issues in the podcast episode, there is more information and support in the links below:

Mind – the mental health charity

NHS – mental health

NHS – grief after bereavement or loss

NHS – Coronavirus

Click here to listen to more episodes of The Outdoors Fix podcast.

(Photo: Gilly McArthur swimming in an ice channel. Photo by HDDNMedia – Ben)

The Outdoors Fix is proudly supported by Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports – stores nationwide and online offering everything you need to equip you for the best outdoors experience.