Loch Ness Challenge: 42km Swim for Kids in Nepal

This August, four open-water swimmers from Spain and the UK will attempt a continuous relay swim of the entire length of Loch Ness in Scotland — a gruelling 42-kilometre challenge expected to take up to 14 hours. The team is made up of James Stuart (Scotland), Iñaki Guezuraga (Spain), Ricardo Arana (Spain), and Chris Keightley-Pugh (Gibraltar), who will each swim approximately 11 kilometres in turn, braving the icy waters and unpredictable weather of one of the world’s most famous - and mysterious - lakes.

While the distance itself is a challenge, the real difficulty lies in enduring the freezing temperatures of the loch, which can hover around 10°C even in summer. Add to that the famously moody Scottish weather and the occasional suspicious ripple (which may or may not be the Loch Ness Monster), and you have a crossing that is as tough as it is legendary.

The quartet (who have previously raised funds by crossing the iconic Strait of Gibraltar) is undertaking this journey to raise funds once again for the Fundación Vicente Ferrer, an organisation committed to sustainable development in some of the most vulnerable regions of the world. This year, the charitable project is focused on Nepal, where the support raised will help provide access to early childhood education for 250 children aged 3 to 6 in the Kathmandu Valley. The aim is to ensure they have a safe, healthy environment and better opportunities for the future.

“We’re doing this for a great cause,” says Ricardo Arana, “and if Nessie decides to join us for a bit, we’ll count it as a bonus.”