The perfect place to take the plunge

It’s the moment Stonehaven locals have been waiting for – the open air swimming pool opens for the new season on Saturday May 27.

The Olympic-sized, 50m pool and lido, filled with clean sea water, is heated to 29C (84F) and with its sheltered sun terraces, it is sometimes warmer than the Med.

It has been delighting residents and visitors alike since it opened on June 4 1934 at a cost of £9,529.

The pool was built to competition standards, which at that time were for races of 110 yards.

Even considering operating costs and loan charges, the first season brought in a large profit.

Customer feedback was not all positive and so, for the 1935 season, not only was the sea water circulated, filtered and disinfected, it was also heated.

Following the war, it became a major attraction for visitors from a wide area, including Aberdeen and beyond. Despite changing holiday habits in the 1960s and 70s and the pool requiring considerable work, attendances remained healthy, with 65,000 people passing through the turnstiles in 1975 alone.

The 1980s and 90s saw a decline in numbers and seasons were cut to eight weeks. By the mid-1990s there were fears the pool might close and this prompted the founding of a community group, the Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Pool, initially to lobby for its retention.

Today, the group is a recognised charity and works with Aberdeenshire Council. While the local authority operates the pool, the friends maintain, enhance and promote it and there is now a programme of activities to suit all ages.

Stonehaven open air pool is still a major attraction for all ages.