Videos

Not all the videos are swimming – running, skiing, biking and even my wife’s dog Milly has a video to herself.

I’ve always loved images, I’ve always loved writing, making either relevant is the point. So these few videos show a snippet in time of some great moments. I’ve kept them short, in any case they’re all taken on the go and entirely spontaneous. What you see is what you get.

Land & seascapes – All of the swimming videos (other than Lake Como, Italy) are filmed on or near the Costa de Luz, Spain’s southern Atlantic coast where I live. Our swims regularly take us along the Parque Natural del Estrecho and the Parque Natural de Las Breñas. Other parts of the coast are military zones, no access to the public but happily there are no fences in the sea. Inland is the Parque Natural los Alcornocales a 175,000 hectare nature reserve which stretches from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and inland to the high peaks of Grazalema.

Videography All of the videos are filmed on a GoPro Black 7, all filming & editing is mine other than one video shot by Antonio Bellido. Edited on standard iMovie software.

My companions Thanks to all my wonderful companions who have accompanied me on these adventures. I made these videos for sharing with friends and family knowing that whatever happens in life there will always a happy memory of another time and another place.

My very own aquarium with soulful music by Vladimir Cosma. With Iñaki Guezuraga and Ignacio Soto. Filmed between Punta Camarinal and Atlanterra.

Dawn swim, November 2022. This is the final leg of the 64,000m. swim from Conil to Tarifa with Chris Keightley Pew. A frosty start in pitch black water until the sun rose. Our start point was the Hurricane Hotel, our finish the rocks at the Balneario, Tarifa. A great memory.

The Bolonia to Atlanterra swim (a traverse of two headlands, Punta Camarinal and Cabo Gracia with well known strong currents) was part of the seemingly interminable challenge to swim from Conil to Tarifa. This time a helicopter was sent out to search for us after a beach goer (who assumed we’d be swimming back to the start – never our intention) reported us missing. Headline news. Meanwhile we’d finished and were eating lunch in a nearby Venta. Check out the blog for the full story. With Iñaki Guezuraga and Ignacio Soto.

Swimming solo in Lake Como, October 2021. Read ‘Swimming with skeletons’ in the blog for more on swimming in Lago di Como.

3000m. before lunch, March 2022 with Iñaki Guezuraga and Ignacio Soto.

Alcornocales Natural Park MBK ride, spring 2022 with Duncan Stuart and Clare & Murray Johnstone. Of course it finishes with a swim! The Alcornocales is a privilege to have on our doorstep, Europe’s largest oak forest which stretches from the sea to the mountains.

A change of pace! One of my favourite videos with music by Giorgio Moroder from the iconic film Midnight Express.

A short film by Antonio Bellido at Faro Camarinal with drone footage. Thanks Antonio, this is professional video! Swimming with Ignacio Soto.

Bored of swimming I went for a run, this time through magical Cordoba, best way to see the sights. Music by Moby.

Swimming with a lonesome giant jellyfish. Swimming with Ignacio Soto from Playa Cañuelo to Atlanterra. Music by Derek Clegg.

On a hot day in Andalucía I edited this ice cold video. Climbing in the Cairngorms, Scotland.

A natural hot spring swim near Manilva, Malaga. Legend has it that these buildings were founded by Julius Caesar after he cured himself in their waters. Later restored by the Arabs and still in use today.

A sneaky lockdown escape avoiding the Guardia Civil and paddling to a remote Vulture’s eerie in the Alcornocales Nature Reserve. With François de Pfyffer. Music by Bensounds.

Winter escape, this time to France. This is the Piste Perdue in Val d’Isére. ‘Not quite Leo’ inspired by Léo Taillefer’s famous Go Pro Line of the Winter on this piste – exactly – not quite Leo ha ha!.

Kayak and canoe adventure along the Acantilado de Las Breñas and the ‘Cortinas’ waterfall with Izzy Stuart, Gerard Burns and another James Stuart.

The Rio de la Miel, a stunning walk not far from the port city of Algeciras. This watercourse forms part of the Alcornocales Nature Reserve. A warm day meant a cool dip too!

A fabulous old video… crossing the Atlas Mountains in Morocco on skis from 2011 with François de Pfyffer and my brother Duncan Stuart. This self supported trip took us from the Aït Bwgmez valley to the summit of M’Goun at over 4,000m.

Andalucia, summer 2021 – the sun doesn’t always shine in August in the south of Spain!! With Andrew Wallace. Music by Bensounds.

Just a perfect day… swimming with Chris KP and Rafa Sanchez Ponce from Zahora to Cape Trafalgar.

Having a blast – a full on 40 knot levante. Why not take the paddle boards out? With Kate & François de Pfyffer.

Freedom! May 1st 2020, first day after the first lockdown I took Milly out for a run from my house…

Swimming from Los Caños de Meca to Barbate. I was with Rafa Sanchez Ponce on our first long swim (6000m.) along the Acantilado Marine Reserve near Vejer.

On my 58th. birthday I picked up a skateboard (after a 40 year hiatus!!) while on holiday in Portugal. No tricks but great to feel the flow again. Thanks to Noah’s Surf House, Santa Cruz. Music by Derek Clegg.