Swimmer conquers the Pentland Firth

A Perthshire-based open water swimmer has become the first ever person to conquer the Pentland Firth.

Colleen Blair, 33, set off from Tor Ness on the south tip of Hoy at 6am this morning, and touched land near the Castle of Mey in Caithness 4 hours, 41 minutes and 21 seconds later.

Despite battling bitterly cold sea temperatures, the notoriously strong tides in the firth, and jellyfish, she said: “It feels good. I’ve done a lot of swims but this one is special because I’m the first person to do it.”

An experienced open water swimmer, Colleen has previously crossed the English Channel, the North Channel from Ireland to Scotland, and Loch Ness, as well swimming round Manhattan Island in New York, and Jersey.

Full story in this week’s The Orcadian.