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LEARNING THE LIGHT

Victoria’s life is defined by the sea

After almost two decades of caring for others, author Victoria Bennett answered the draw of light, folklore and edge-of-the-map island life, and moved her family to Orkney. Here, she discovered a greater connection to nature and to herself through nurturing her garden and swimming in the sea.

With her book, Apothecary By The Sea: A Year In An Orkney Garden out this month, we asked Victoria what led her to Orkney, how she created her new life on the island – and to share her favourite recipes for outdoor swimmers.

LIVING IN THE SEA

We talk a lot about immersion in nature. But, speaking to Victoria, it feels as though Orkney redefines is phrase. An archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland, island life, its rich history and folklore, is characterise by the light, wild weather, and the ocean.

“It’s not just living by the sea, it’s living in the sea. That’s what it feels like,” says Victoria. “The light of the sky is the light of the sea – there’s barely any divide other than this tiny thin slither of green because the islands are very low-lying. Everything’s defined by the sea – my life is defined by the sea.”

Practically, this means being cut off from the main town during storms by the Churchill Barriers. But, for Victoria, the meaning is deeper. The ocean has reshaped her, taught her how to let go.

“There’s a curious balance, which I’m sure you understand – you have to release control to get into water, and acknowledge that it’s in control,” she says. “But you also have to be quite controlled in that letting go.”

This juxtaposition of letting go while retaining control is familiar to all of us outdoor swimmers – it’s a theme that threads through Victoria’s story. It speaks of her stage of life, her chronic illness, her losses, and relinquishing her responsibilities as a carer.