Embracing Island Life: My journey through wild swimming, breathwork, vegan cooking and writing

In recent years, living on Rum, my daily rhythm has transformed in ways I never expected. The island’s quiet pace invites you to slow down and connect deeply with nature and yourself. I have started writing weekly on Substack about my experiences - I’m sharing stories about island life, running a small business, and the simple joys that shape my days here. Today, I want to take you through some of the most meaningful parts of my journey: wild swimming, breathwork, and vegan cooking.

Finding Freedom in Wild Swimming

When I first tried wild swimming, it felt daunting, I tried it on a whim one December because a visiting friend was doing it and I was curious The water was cold, the weather unpredictable, and the sea had a mind of its own. But Rum's wild seas quickly became a place of freedom and renewal for me. Each swim is a small adventure, a chance to feel alive and connected.

When the sea is glassy and still, I can slip into the water, the cold is biting at first but it soon melts into a comforting embrace. The silence around me is profound, the silence in my head is profound and broken only by the gentle lapping of waves. Wild swimming isn’t just exercise and mostly it's not, but it is a form of meditation and a way to reset my mind.

Wild swimming has become a cornerstone of my life. It clears my head and fuels my creativity, which I channel into writing and making all the lovely things for my craft shop. I'm putting together a wild swimming guide for Rum, there are still few places to visit before it's finished but I'm happy to share tips in the meantime.

Breathwork as a Daily Practice

Alongside swimming, breathwork has become an essential part of my life. I learned about he importance breathwork, and especially nose breathing, through a book lent to me by a friend 'Breath ' by James Nestor. Following this I learned about functional breathing through the Oxygen Advantage and my life has not been the same. It helps me manage stress and stay grounded, remain healthy and sleep well.

On Rum, where the pace is slower and the air is fresh, breathwork can feel especially powerful.

Breathwork also supports my wild swimming. Before entering the cold water, I use slow breathing to prepare my body and mind. It reduces the shock of the cold and helps me stay calm in the waves.

Cooking Vegan food on the Island known for venison!

My lovely guesthouse has been serving vegetarian and vegan food for a quite a few years now and is definitely one of the best decisions I've made. I can cook up a storm of delicious food and use as much local produce as I can. This was hampered last year as my beloved polytunnel finally succumbed to the winter storms and is no more. It had been on its last legs for a while and it served me well for many many years. Not to worry though, as I am planning to put up another one in my garden instead. For various reasons, I'll be no longer allowed to use the walled garden of the castle where my old polytunnel was.

Running a small business on Rum means I often share these recipes with my guests, everyone wants to know how I bake my bread. I'm often asked if I have a book of recipes, i don't but there's another idea for a winter project!

Writing as a Way to Connect

I decided a while ago I wanted to write a book about Rum, to tell our story as a community through our journey to land ownership and beyond. Our successes and struggles and what the future holds for us. Starting to write about my experiences has been a really good for me. I've started weekly Substack posts as well to help keep up a regular writing practice, which will replace this blog, so if you want to read more, click on the link at the bottom of this article, you can follow along or subscribe. I share stories about the everyday moments that make island life special. Writing helps me reflect, process, and connect with others.

Follow my stories on Substack here