Cold Toes & Warm Mugs: A Blustery Swim at Blackrock, Galway

Blackrock, Galway, Sea Swimming

It’s the kind of day that makes most people pull the duvet back over their heads - cold, blustery, with clouds hanging low over Galway Bay. But for some reason, I rolled out of my bed this morning with a notion in my head: sea swim or bust.

Blackrock, the iconic diving tower in Salthill, stood grey and windswept as I rolled up in my trusty T6. The Atlantic wasn’t exactly welcoming - choppy, cold, and a bit moody - but it called to me anyway.

I stood there for a moment, wrapped in five layers, questioning my life choices. A group of hardy locals strolled by in swimsuits, chatting like it was a sunny Tuesday in August. One gave me a cheerful nod and said, “Lovely day for it!” I wasn’t sure if it was encouragement or sarcasm, but it worked. I peeled off my layers, took a deep breath, and stepped in.

Into the Atlantic

The first second is always a shock. The second second is worse. But then comes the whoosh - that exhilarating rush as your body gives up resisting and you just surrender to the cold.

Waves slapped against my shoulders, the wind stung my cheeks, and for a few wild, glorious minutes, I felt completely alive. It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t long. But it was enough.

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Back on land, wrapped in a towel, I sprinted (more like a fast walk really) across the promenade to where my VW campervan was waiting like a hug on wheels.

The Best Part: Warming Up

I slid open the van door and stepped into warmth - blankets, fairy lights, and the smell of coffee from the flask I’d sipped at earlier. My fingers fumbled with the hob, and soon a small saucepan was bubbling away with hot milk, ready to make a fresh milky coffee. My nose was red, my hair dripping, and my toes had lost all feeling—but I couldn’t stop smiling.

I sat there in my camper, looking out at the sea as the rain started to splodge on the windscreen, and thought: This is it. This is why I do it. Not for the swim itself, but for the feeling after - the contrast of cold and warm, wild and safe, alone but completely connected.

Blackrock is a Ritual

There’s something about swimming at Blackrock, even on days that would scare off the hardiest of seagulls. It’s part madness, part medicine. And when you’ve got your VW camper parked nearby with dry clothes, a hot drink, and a good view, it’s not just a swim—it’s an experience.

Fancy a Dip of Your Own?

Whether you’re a seasoned sea swimmer or a first-timer, there’s nothing quite like the Irish coast in winter - and nothing better than having a campervan waiting to warm you up after.

Check out our campers for sale and discover wild dips and warm recoveries from the safety of your own campervan.

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