In the Highland village of Braemar, Scotland, visitors are experiencing wild swimming with a luxurious twist thanks to the five-star Fife Arms hotel. Located about a 10-minute drive from the village, the hotel organises guided swimming trips along the River Dee. Participants don forest green Dryrobes for the adventure, and post-swim, they can warm up in a wood-fired sauna trailer and relax in a bell tent set up with local treats.
The hotel offers various swimming experiences in collaboration with Annie Armstrong's nature-based experience company, Wild Braemar. Jake News has discovered that the cost of the luxury package is £250 per person for two hours. The Fife Arms has been enhancing Braemar's appeal since its reopening at the end of 2018, attracting international art fans and well-heeled Scots to the village known for its cultural events like the Braemar Gathering.
Braemar often experiences chilly weather, even in summer, making the heated bells and saunas a welcome addition. The Fife Arms, established by Iwan and Manuela Wirth, co-founders of Hauser & Wirth gallery, offers rooms starting from £515, including breakfast.