Quite simply, Gilly is outstanding!
She drove from her home in the Lakes to North Norfolk (which is a really long way!) to present her film, Body of Water for us.
I work in the Holt Finisterre store, I have been following Gilly on Instagram since first seeing this film in 2020. It was captivating. After messaging Gilly we chatted and created a plan for an event. We sold out in less than 48 hours!!!

Our little event was INCREDIBLE! It far exceeded all of my expectations. Gilly is the most wonderful presenter. Inspirational, funny, knowledgable and best of all a genuinely lovely person!

I really feel like we have created the start of a fabulous relationship and I can’t wait to plan more things with Gilly.

Gilly’s natural humour, warmth and exceptional knowledge of her subject make her one of the most engaging presenters I have ever listened to. I  experienced Gilly’s swim guidance at a winter swim festival in the Scottish Highlands, and her care and attention in the open water is second to none. To have this followed with a talk on her adventures through lake and mountain landscapes across the world was truly inspirational. Hilarious anecdotes, jaw dropping experiences and all with a deep love and respect for our natural environment at its heart. An utterly engaging speaker, outdoor coach and mental health advocate – I cannot wait to have the opportunity to learn from her again.  

Gilly – what can I say! A swim with you is such a special thing it’s hard to put into words. You are so much more than a swim coach and water safety crew.
Your warmth and soulful kindness are something special, I left the session on such a high it’s lasted for weeks since. On a practical note – your expertise and practical approach is a given. I felt so safe and so supported. I also love how your passion for these blue spaces goes so far past swimming, it feels like a much bigger experience, connecting with nature, our own bodies and the people we are with. Thank you for all that you do, for bringing the laughs and sharing the joy.

Gilly is an exceptional teacher, full of life and enthusiasm for her work. Her energy makes it easier for first-timers to get into the water. We made friends, and after moving to the Lake District, she really helped me build confidence and create a new lifestyle here. We hosted our first open water session, which was a huge success, helping many women experience open water swimming for the first time. Her calmness and teaching style are incredible assets, and she is truly amazing.

Gilly is the best in the business. We’ve worked with her on various different projects over the years, and she’s the safest pair of hands in the game: brand and budget-savvy, culturally attuned, and a right good laugh with it. Yes, we’re fans…

Gilly was an exceptional support in bringing the interview with Janja Garnbret, Climbing legend and Olympic Gold medal winner, to life. She brought an amazing energy and passion to the team and it was a total joy to work with her. When can we do it again?!

Gilly is natural communicator who can deliver engaging content to a variety of audiences. She is comfortable with community, business, policy and academic audiences where she connects authentically to people in her stories, passion and teachings about the outdoors, nature and water.

It was an absolutely amazing to meet and work alongside Gilly. The warmth, knowledge and passion which Gilly brings (in bucketloads) left everyone feeling informed, excited and most of all inspired. Thank you Gilly- we can’t wait for you to come back again soon!

As an International Search and Rescue worker, I have experienced many extreme environments, yet what I learnt from Gilly both in and out of the water was invaluable. She instructs and presents with expertise in a way that is highly accessible, interesting and memorable. She brings a strong sense of safety and containment, yet with a brilliant sense of humour, making her sessions truly impactful, entertaining and rewarding. She is a class act.

We love working with Gilly! For our Elements festival in Cornwall this year she was amazing. Her expertise in coordinating and leading sea and quarry swim sessions for us was nothing short of exceptional. Her attention to detail ensured that each swim was not only safe but also thoroughly enjoyable for all participants. Gilly’s enthusiasm and passion for the outdoors and cold water swimming were infectious, making each swim an unforgettable experience. Also, Gilly has been a guest speaker for Sidetracked on a couple of occasions – at the Elements festival and also on our Sidetracked LIVE tour. Gilly has a unique ability to engage her audience, sharing her adventures and knowledge in a way that is both inspiring and relatable. Her presentations were memorable and hugely entertaining. As you can probably tell, we’re big fans of Gilly and always keen to work with her whenever we can!

I have worked with Gilly across a few different projects and each time it has been a total joy. Gilly brings so much humanity and warmth to every aspect of her role, leaving a positive and life-affirming imprint on everyone she meets. I cannot count all the ways she has shaped the outdoor and creative scene into a happier, healthier and much more inclusive space. Thank you for everything, Gilly.

Working with Gilly for eight years on the Women’s Trad Festival was an incredible experience. As one of the highlights of my career, collaborating with Gilly was always inspiring and rewarding. Gilly’s outstanding creativity, relentless hard work, and innovative spirit played a crucial role in making the Women’s Trad Festival an internationally renowned, sell-out event. Her dedication and passion for empowering women in trad climbing and her remarkable ability to bring creative ideas to life were truly exceptional. Gilly’s commitment and enthusiasm were infectious, making her an invaluable part of the team.

Where do I start about what I think of Gilly McArthur? Bottom line up front is I rate Gilly as one of the best people I know. From her very core she is an inspirational person. One of those people who makes you feel like you are the most important person in the world. This beautiful attribute sits alongside her compassion, empathy and unwavering moral courage. Her skill, leadership and patience when taking people into the cold water environment is unsurpassed and she combines this with forensic knowledge on what is happening to you as you immerse yourself in a situation many are not familiar and often comfortable with.

We have been working with Gilly over the past few years here at Red with various different projects such as leading cold water therapy sessions to many of our communities and ambassadors. Gilly is an incredible & knowledgable leader that makes you feel safe and calm when you are stepping out of your comfort zone, who along with wanting to make you feel comfortable provides you with first hand knowledge and education all about cold water which as a brand we value beyond words. She has been an excellent teamplayer on photoshoots really helping to recruit models within her own community and bringing them to the forefront to create such a successful brand photoshoot with inspiring stories and creativity. Gilly brings such confidence when working on team projects for Red and represents the brand in such a positive light. She executes tasks promptly and executes herself in a way that is so inspiring for us as a brand to work with and for others. Gilly’s warm, bubbly, insightful personality all encompasses who we are here at Red and it is a joy to have her as part of the team.

I was lucky enough to be coached by Gilly as part of an NHS study group; researching the effects of cold water swimming on mental (ill) health. I feel this was one of those rare moments in life where fate, circumstance and luck held me. Gilly’s knowledge, encouragement and friendly advice has delivered not only a tool in my “come on, you can do this kit” and my “I will get through this tricky time determination ”; but also introduced me to new people whom I am so thankful to call friends. We shriek, whoop, yell and laugh together. We swim in the rain, in icy lakes, with fairy lights and with so much joy. And we talk. A lot. All of this facilitated through Gilly’s expertise in her subject and through her warmth and kindness.

Before I met Gilly, I couldn’t have imagined swapping my wetsuit for a swimming costume, let alone taking to the Lake District waters in the depths of winter and ‘fresh’ windy summer days. But that is exactly what happened, and it has changed my life in the most wonderful way.

From our very first session together in 2020, Gilly made me feel completely safe. She took the time to explain open-water safety, reading the conditions, and listening to what my body was telling me. There was never any pressure, only encouragement and genuine care.

What I didn’t expect was how mindful the whole experience would feel. Standing at the water’s edge, breathing deeply, feeling the cold take hold brings you entirely into the present moment. Gilly has a rare gift for sharing that sense of stillness and joy with others.

I now swim throughout the year, in all weathers, and I count those sessions on the lake among the best of my swimming experiences. I am so grateful to Gilly for showing me that water isn’t something to fear, it’s something to embrace, with the right guide beside you.

Gilly has been a key inspiration for me and my book collaborator, Anna Deacon. It’s not just about the amazing things she does, but also the way she communicates them. That’s why, when we were working on our books, we kept turning to Gilly and her words, again and again. When we were writing Taking The Plunge, I was struck by how powerfully she told her own story of the challenges she has faced,and also articulated in writing the experience of going into cold water – that bliss moment it can bring. We were also so wowed by Gilly’s code for responsible swimming that we felt we had to have a version of it in our book, The Art of Wild Swimming Scotland. For The Art of Wild Swimming England and Wales, we quickly felt that a photo of her entering a lake had to be the front cover. And when it came to writing The Ripple Effect, about swimming groups, we turned again to Gilly, who brings people together and has empowered so many. She is a total joy to be around – and having her in our books is also partly an excuse to hang out with her.

We have worked with Gilly on a number of occasions and every time Gilly is a joy to work with. She is always so professional yet friendly and supportive. Her knowledge of cold water swimming is shared so graciously with our guests. She never fails to deliver a memorable experience.

We have been working with Gilly for a number of years now as an Arc’teryx Ambassador. She has an extremely special and rare talent to connect with people instantly and make them feel completely at ease. This along with her unwavering passion for wellness, mental health and cold water has enabled us to run extremely successful cold water swimming workshops that people can’t get enough of.

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I will never forget the overwhelming sense of stillness and deep connection to nature that came over me as Gilly gently encouraged me into the chilly waters of Windemere on a sunny autumn morning. My mind was totally lost in the beauty and power of that special moment.

Working with Gilly was transformative for me. I never thought I could enjoy cold water, but the gentle guidance she and the team supported me with helped me find peace and stillness again. I now take my husband and kids and travel with my swimmers wherever I go.

I appreciate how Gilly tailored the swim experience to our unique needs. I’ve had back pain and knee issues for many years, and so was reluctant to even get down to the shore. Gilly truly understands that each person is different. I left feeling empowered to do more. My pain was reduced, and after the third session, I really noticed a shift in mood and energy. The hotel setting of Langdale made it even more special and I was able to get into the long drive home with a happy husband.

Gilly – Thank you for our last session. It’s been amazing. I was so hesitant about the cold water, but you made me feel safe and supported. Your kind words and soft, skilled approach encouraged me to see that, even with my wetsuit on in that first session, there was a benefit. After our second session, the wetsuit was off! I have been struggling to find the right instructor after doing a cold water course which really made me anxious afterwards. I can’t recommend you enough.

I have seen Gilly for 4 cold water sessions. I can genuinely say Gilly has been instrumental in helping me find myself again after COVID, where my belief in my own body was taken away.

We had such a super time on the intro sessions with Gilly, she put us at ease from the start without bombarding us with information, the talk and films were brilliant and when we set off the pace was just right. Having never swum in a lake before I was so nervous of what was under the surface but Gilly put me at ease (and I learnt so much about eels!) I’m so grateful for the sessions and haven’t stopped swimming since. I am inspired to try to continue through winter now – Thank you SO much.

In lockdown Katie and Gilly truly transformed my life. The Blue Mind cold water sessions gave me focus, and a community I didn’t know existed. I can’t believe I am still swimming after all those years, and sharing this love of water with others now.

Gilly ran a cold water session for us this week in the Highlands and I have never experienced the water like this – it was calm, peaceful and I felt so held in the water. The meditation on the shore helped me feel grounded and although the water felt so cold this was the first time I have actually enjoyed a swim. Gilly knowledge is infectious, her top tips to help with dressing have saved me a lot of time. The course left me feeling like I would like to get a cold plunge tub of my own – I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Brilliant morning in the cold! The sauna afterwards really helped, but I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this – as a rugby player with a few knee issues at the moment, I’ve been surprised how my body felt. Gilly encouraged individuality – and gave us options to the cold water– which allowed me and the guys a safe start point. 5 star – despite the group setting, it was a truly personal experience.

Uplifting, funny, grounded, informative, and so much confidence in one session, I can’t wait to do more. The warm chia at the end was a special treat, and I now have a toolkit to take this forward for my staff. The session has been invaluable for my own head and I’m excited to see how the practice enjoys it too.

Lovely, stunning day with very knowledgeable coaches and lots of coffee and cake from Ginger bakers. We would recommend this course again. The presentation and films were paced well and SO informative – now I know why I have been so tired!! Great fun, amazing setting, the best morning spent outdoors in years. THANK YOU so much. I feel new again (and not too old to start).

I first met Gilly in May through an NHS-backed university research programme, when I was very much a cautious wetsuit toe-dipper rather than someone who imagined cold-water swimming would become part of my life.

Since that first swim, I have completed regular weekly swims in the Lakes — including winter and sub 4 degrees water. At 57, I never expected to be doing something like this, but Gilly has given me the confidence, knowledge and calm encouragement to believe I could.

What makes Gilly so special is the way she teaches. She is warm, reassuring and completely present. Her guidance is never intimidating — it is gentle, practical and empowering. Simple reminders like “breathe, shoulders down, notice the green and the blue” have stayed with me, not just in the water but afterwards too.

Cold-water swimming has become so much more than a dip. It has given me friendships, confidence, clarity, connection with nature and a real sense of achievement. Gilly has opened a door to something I didn’t know I needed, and I am hugely grateful.