Meet the Author: Gilly McArthur
McLintock Hall, Balfron, G63 0TX
Sunday 6th September 2026
We’re thrilled to welcome Gilly McArthur, author of the newly published The Beauty of Cold: The Restorative Power of Cold Water for Connection and Joy.
Gilly is a cold-water swim coach and free climber. Over the past ten years, she has supported 1000s of people to take that first step into the cold and harness its potential for wellbeing.Born in the north of Scotland and shaped by a life spent outdoors, her experiences inform her work, which sits at the intersection of nature, wellbeing and resilience. Gilly moved to be closer to water and the mountains after she broke her back rock climbing in Utah, USA. The cold water helped rebuild her resilience. She made a full recovery and, along with her love of cold water, still climbs.
Much of Gilly's work is deeply connected to mental wellbeing and nature connection, and she passionately shares her love of cold water and the natural world with CEOs, charities, sportspeople, actors, businesses and individuals. She has travelled the world in pursuit of these passions and has worked across the outdoor industry for more than 2 decades. Her work has been profiled in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveller and on the BBC, and she has been featured in various award-winning films, books and publications.
Her work is grounded in experience and supported by growing research on the effects of cold water on mental health. Gilly is also part of the swim coaching team for Outside2 - a UK-based university programme exploring the use of outdoor swimming and cold water to improve wellbeing for patients with depression and anxiety. In addition, she was the director of the Women's Trad Festival and is the founder of Blue Mind Men - a men's cold-water swim club - based on Windermere. This group meets every Sunday to share the water, stripped back from the weight of the week, finding joy in nature and a dip into wellbeing.
About the book: The Beauty of Cold
This is a beautiful photographic guide to the joy of cold water and how it can boost mental and physical wellbeing at every age and stage of life. Whether you're seeking resilience, calm, community, or simply the joy of being immersed in nature, The Beauty of Cold offers a life-affirming path back to yourself in simple, achievable, lasting steps. At a time when we all need to escape the noise, this is the perfect cold-water antidote and allows a path back to being more human.
"The Beauty of Cold is a love letter to wild water and the fierce tenderness it awakens in us. Gilly doesn’t just write about swimming — she writes about belonging: to the body, the elements, and the present moment. Brave, playful and full of heart, this book reminds us that in the cold, we find our true aliveness."
Easkey Britton, PhD, is a big-wave surfer and author of "Saltwater in the Blood"
"The Beauty of Cold is a stunning invitation to return to ourselves through the elemental power of cold. Gilly McArthur’s personal stories and hard-won wisdom shine throughout, reminding us that there is quiet joy and deep strength in facing who we truly are. This is more than a book—it’s a ritual, a reconnection, and a beautifully told plunge into presence.”
Ella Foote, Editor - Outdoor Swimmer Magazine and Swim Guide.
https://gillymcarthur.com/
All welcome; however, no unaccompanied children under 14 years.
Gilly is a cold-water swim coach and free climber. Over the past ten years, she has supported 1000s of people to take that first step into the cold and harness its potential for wellbeing.Born in the north of Scotland and shaped by a life spent outdoors, her experiences inform her work, which sits at the intersection of nature, wellbeing and resilience. Gilly moved to be closer to water and the mountains after she broke her back rock climbing in Utah, USA. The cold water helped rebuild her resilience. She made a full recovery and, along with her love of cold water, still climbs.
Much of Gilly's work is deeply connected to mental wellbeing and nature connection, and she passionately shares her love of cold water and the natural world with CEOs, charities, sportspeople, actors, businesses and individuals. She has travelled the world in pursuit of these passions and has worked across the outdoor industry for more than 2 decades. Her work has been profiled in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveller and on the BBC, and she has been featured in various award-winning films, books and publications.
Her work is grounded in experience and supported by growing research on the effects of cold water on mental health. Gilly is also part of the swim coaching team for Outside2 - a UK-based university programme exploring the use of outdoor swimming and cold water to improve wellbeing for patients with depression and anxiety. In addition, she was the director of the Women's Trad Festival and is the founder of Blue Mind Men - a men's cold-water swim club - based on Windermere. This group meets every Sunday to share the water, stripped back from the weight of the week, finding joy in nature and a dip into wellbeing.
About the book: The Beauty of Cold
This is a beautiful photographic guide to the joy of cold water and how it can boost mental and physical wellbeing at every age and stage of life. Whether you're seeking resilience, calm, community, or simply the joy of being immersed in nature, The Beauty of Cold offers a life-affirming path back to yourself in simple, achievable, lasting steps. At a time when we all need to escape the noise, this is the perfect cold-water antidote and allows a path back to being more human.
"The Beauty of Cold is a love letter to wild water and the fierce tenderness it awakens in us. Gilly doesn’t just write about swimming — she writes about belonging: to the body, the elements, and the present moment. Brave, playful and full of heart, this book reminds us that in the cold, we find our true aliveness."
Easkey Britton, PhD, is a big-wave surfer and author of "Saltwater in the Blood"
"The Beauty of Cold is a stunning invitation to return to ourselves through the elemental power of cold. Gilly McArthur’s personal stories and hard-won wisdom shine throughout, reminding us that there is quiet joy and deep strength in facing who we truly are. This is more than a book—it’s a ritual, a reconnection, and a beautifully told plunge into presence.”
Ella Foote, Editor - Outdoor Swimmer Magazine and Swim Guide.
https://gillymcarthur.com/
All welcome; however, no unaccompanied children under 14 years.
