Wild Swimming in Scotland: Discover Set Aside in the Scottish Borders

Wild Swimming in Scotland: Discover Set Aside in the Scottish Borders

If you’re looking for wild swimming in Scotland, you might be imagining peaceful water, open countryside and a chance to escape the usual noise of everyday life. At Set Aside, near Greenlaw in the Scottish Borders, you’ll find a place where wild swimming is part of a growing community of like-minded people.

Set Aside is based on a 700-acre organic working farm, where caring for the land, learning new skills and bringing people together are all part of the vision. The reservoir offers members a place to enjoy the water, while the wider farm provides space to explore nature, slow down and reconnect.

Whether you’re already a keen wild swimmer or curious about trying cold water swimming for the first time, Set Aside offers an opportunity to connect with the landscape and become part of a community that cares about its future.

Discover wild swimming in Berwickshire

The Scottish Borders offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, from walking routes and rolling countryside to quiet places where you can spend time surrounded by nature.

Set Aside brings that experience together with a reservoir on the Greenlawdean farm. It’s a place where you can enjoy time by the water and take a break from the demands of everyday life.

Swimming at Set Aside is part of a membership-based experience. Members can book two-hour swimming slots through the online member portal.

There’s also a purpose-built hut beside the reservoir where you can change and relax. Having a dedicated space to prepare for your swim and unwind afterwards makes the experience more comfortable, particularly when you’re getting used to cold water.

For anyone exploring wild swimming in Berwickshire, Set Aside offers a different way to experience the area, combining time in the water with a wider connection to the land and the people who look after it.

How Set Aside came to life

Set Aside didn’t begin simply as a way to offer people an outdoor experience. Its roots lie in a family’s desire to protect a much-loved place and help the land thrive for future generations.

Greenlawdean was Peter Leggate’s pride and joy. During the long lockdowns in Australia, from 2020 to 2022, the family began thinking about how they could preserve the farm in all its natural glory, even while their lives were based on the other side of the world.

Protecting Greenlawdean had always been Peter’s dream. Following his death, his wife Jenny returned to Scotland to begin the substantial restructuring needed to carry that vision forward and give the farm’s wilder areas room to flourish.

That meant rethinking how the farm operated, identifying new opportunities and creating a future that would allow the land to regenerate.

With a new farming structure and team focused on organic methods, alongside invaluable support from friends, family and the local community, Greenlawdean began a new chapter.

Set Aside came to life.

The idea was to develop a different kind of eco-tourism, one that could help support the farm while inviting people to experience the landscape and become involved in its future.

The people behind Set Aside see themselves as custodians of a precious place. Sharing Greenlawdean is part of that responsibility, as is protecting the qualities that make it special.

New to wild swimming?

Lynda from Take to the Water offers a monthly session at Set Aside, open to members and non-members alike.

This monthly get together celebrates the water, nature and the season. It’s the perfect starting point for new swimmers, or for more experienced swimmers to meet more like minded people.

Contact Lynda direct here Her website is also a great resource for wild water swimming safety information.

More than wild swimming: Connecting with nature and community

At Set Aside, the experience extends beyond the reservoir. The wider vision is to create a place where people can learn together, share knowledge and develop a deeper connection with the natural world.

The farm’s 700 acres provide a setting for discovering organic farming, wildlife and traditional skills. Through events and workshops, members have opportunities to learn from others and share what they know.

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn how to build a fire for outdoor cooking. Maybe you’d like to develop practical skills, spend more time outdoors or simply find a community of people who value a slower, more considered way of living.

You don’t need to arrive knowing everything. Curiosity and a willingness to get involved are a good place to start.

Set Aside also takes a deliberate approach to technology. While it uses online communication to share information and organise activities, social media is intentionally absent from its approach.

The idea isn’t to shut yourself away from the modern world entirely. It’s to create more room for direct experiences, meaningful conversations and the simple pleasure of being somewhere without feeling the need to document every moment.

Wild swimming can be one part of that experience. So can walking around the farm, learning a new skill or sitting quietly and appreciating nature.

How Set Aside community membership works

Set Aside has created a membership model, allowing people to become part of the community.

Community Membership costs £8 per month and is designed for people who want to learn, take part and connect with others who share an interest in nature and the land.

Membership benefits include:

• Discounted access to events and workshops.
• Priority booking for accommodation in the farm’s huts.
• Access to facilities including the rest area and refreshments.
• Opportunities to connect with like-minded people.
• Opportunities to learn about organic farming, wildlife and traditional skills.

For those interested in swimming, members can book two-hour reservoir sessions through the member portal..

Membership is also an opportunity to get involved with the wider life of Greenlawdean. By joining, you’re supporting a community built around learning, sharing and helping care for the land.

Find your space to Reflect, Restore and Revive

Wild swimming in Scotland can be about much more than finding somewhere to get into the water. It can be an opportunity to experience the landscape differently, support your mental health and spend time with people who share your appreciation for the natural world.

Whether you’re interested in trying wild swimming, learning traditional skills or becoming more involved in the life of the farm, there’s an opportunity to find your own way to connect.

If that sounds like the kind of experience you’ve been looking for, discover Set Aside and explore Community Membership for £8 per month.

Become part of a community that learns together, grows together and helps care for Greenlawdean for generations to come.