Swimming with the Viking of Skye: A true story of overcoming fear and finding hope for the future

by Richard Waters

‘A beautifully written book full of life lessons by an inspiring human being.’ – Christian Lewis.  

'A stirring story of one man's attempts through cold swimming to stand up to Parkinson’s Disease, an illness that also has its teeth in me. And as he plunged into each freezing loch and burr, I was right there with him.' – Sir Ranulph Fiennes
 
Discover one man’s journey to cold water swimming, and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.  
 
When Rich Waters was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s and soon after learned his young daughter faced a devastating neurological condition, his world narrowed overnight. Searching for something that could steady him, he found himself drawn to the raw landscape and icy pools of the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where cold water offered a rare kind of quiet.  
 
What began as a desperate attempt to cope grew into a vital source of meaning. Each plunge helped Rich feel present again, opening a connection to the natural world that softened fear and brought him moments of clarity. The water didn’t erase the challenges he faced, but it gave him a place where his mind could settle and his spirit could rise. 
 
With the guidance of Matt Rhodes, the ‘Viking of Skye’, Rich discovered a rhythm that helped him navigate the uncertainty of illness. Swimming with the Viking of Skye follows his journey through these wild places and the steadying effect they had on his life. 
 
This memoir captures the story of a man learning to live within a changed reality, a father devoted to his daughter, and the quiet power of nature to help us endure what once felt impossible—offering us a vital reminder that strength and hope can still be found, even in the hardest moments.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2025

Reviews

[Ganesh Subramanian · Rating 4 out of 5]

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This beautiful and deeply moving book primarily explores Skye, Scotland, a place the author frequently visits. It masterfully weaves together three distinct, yet interconnected, narrative threads.

### A Personal Journey Through Grief and Illness

Firstly, the book is a poignant autobiography. The author shares his struggles after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and, concurrently, learning that his three-year-old daughter is succumbing to an incurable and unidentified neurological disease that is progressively damaging her brain.

### A Captivating Travelogue of Skye

Secondly, it serves as a captivating travelogue, showcasing the author's expertise and professional insights into Skye, a stunning and remote island in northern Scotland. The descriptions of Skye are so vivid and awe-inspiring that they evoke an immediate desire to experience its beauty firsthand.

### Stoicism Demystified

Finally, the book provides a clear and accessible explanation of Stoicism, presenting its true meaning in simple terms, free from the often-intimidating jargon typically associated with the philosophy.

### Interweaving Threads of Solace and Inspiration

These three threads are expertly interwoven, allowing the reader to intimately feel the anguish of a parent watching his daughter slowly fade, all while grappling with the challenges of advancing Parkinson's. Amidst these profound difficulties, the author finds solace in Skye's pristine mountains, turquoise waters, and breathtaking beauty. This natural sanctuary offers temporary relief from his PD symptoms and provides a profound context for understanding and embracing Stoicism.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable and impactful book—a true keeper for your bookshelf. It's one you'll likely revisit during difficult times to find inspiration and perspective.

Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed herein are my own.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swimming with the Viking of Skye by Richard Waters was not quite what I expected. I thought it would be more of a guide book to wild swimming but instead found it a beautifully written memoir of one man’s journey with Parkinson’s. I found this a very thought provoking read, one which made me wonder how I would cope with such a diagnosis. Waters is very stoic in his outlook and offers his thoughts on how he coped with the changes that his Parkinson’s brought. I loved the description of Skye, of Water’s relationship with his son and daughter and that of his friend. He shows how the benefits of wild swimming and of being in nature can help. Personally I read this at the right time, I was feeling pretty sad and sorry for myself but Water’s positive thinking and outlook has made me re-evaluate my own circumstances and attempt to help myself and act for myself.

[Ellie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Richard, a former actor and more recent travel-writer. Hearing the shocking news that he has early onset Parkinson's, swiftly followed by even more shocking news about his very young daughter's health, leads him to reflect on his life and discover cold water swimming.
Unfortunately, for me the book wasn't quite a paean to nature, or a self-help book, or a story or triumph over adversity. It was all of those things to some extent but by trying to do all that in a pretty slim tome I felt it didn't quite do anything as well as it could have.
I am pleased that Mr Waters found such a positive way to deal with the challenges in his life.

[I Read, Therefore I Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard Waters is an award-winning travel and sports writer. This very personal book is part memoir, part self-help guidance that looks at how cold water swimming and a stoic attitude helped him to come to terms with two life-changing events. Unfortunately it lacks the self-reflectiveness and raw honesty to succeed as a memoir and lacks the general life advice to work as self-help, which is a shame as the descriptions of nature are excellent.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent but at the same time emotionally exhausting memoir of the author's battle with parky and his daughter's double diagnosis with another wasting illness and his healing journey through cold water swimming. I read this more for the traveling around the isle of Skye but was swept up into his reflective personal self healing story.

[Jennifer Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every inch of this book, which I bought while holidaying in Skye and completed while in Skye. I felt fully emerged in the book and has given me a lot of food for thought. Beautifully written.