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Part-way through his current endurance swim, Ross Edgley set the World Record for the longest assisted contiguous staged sea swim with a wetsuit but no fins or hand paddles.

His sights are set on a much bigger record, however: becoming the first person to swim around the coast of mainland Great Britain.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland wild swimming expert Calum Maclean went to find out more about Ross’s audacious attempt to complete one of the pinnacles of endurance swimming.

Swimming around mainland Great Britain for over 100 days has had some unexpected benefits for Ross.

Not being able to shave meant his beard grew in, providing him protection from the giant jellyfish of Scotland.

“The first thing that happens when swimming at night is your face gets hit by jellyfish. They’ve got me up the nose, in the mouth, in the ear — I essentially got a wet willy from a jellyfish!”

Ross requires 15,000 calories every day to help fuel his body whilst swimming such epic distances.

“It looks strange starting a morning with two pizzas and a full English, but I’m washing that down with a Super Greens shake, a bowl of fruit and multivitamins.”

Ross likened his gruelling exercise and eating regime to having a hangover.

“You’ve abused your body and then you’re going ‘Sorry about last night. Here, have something that’s going to make you feel a little bit better.’ It’s the same thing, just a hangover for 100 days!”

Extended periods of swimming in the ocean have resulted in chaffing, his tongue being caked in salt, cuts and wounds, and sea sickness.

Ross sees the negative aspects of the record attempt as paling in comparison to the benefits: the record attempt has given him some experiences he will remember for the rest of his life.

On his 100th day in the water, Ross was treated to a display by the Red Bull ‘Matador’ aerial display team.

“Some days I’m not living the dream... but then the ocean goes ‘there’s a pod of dolphins to come and swim with you, or there’s a minke whale’ which lets me remember why I’m doing this.”