The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stonehaven open air pool among top lidos in the UK
An Aberdeenshire swimming pool has been named among the top lidos in the UK.
Leading travel guide Wanderlust said many people were drawn to Stonehaven open air pool by its “authenticity and original features.”
The guide placed Stonehaven third on a list topped by The Lido, Bristol and Lymington Seawater Baths in Hampshire.
Wanderlust said: “The historic lidos of the UK are great places to swim, unwind and hang out when the weather gets hot.”
Listing Stonehaven as among “the coolest to take a dip in,” it said: “With its colourful Art Deco buildings and enviable position by the sea south of Aberdeen, the Stonehaven Outdoor Pool has been a favourite with locals since it opened in 1934.
“The Olympic-sized pool is filled with filtered seawater and heated outside of the summer months. The sessions with floats and inflatables help capture that ‘day by the sea’ vibe, but many are drawn to the baths by their authenticity and original features.”
In 1930s Britain, lidos and open air pools were incredibly popular.
After a poll of Stonehaven householders in 1933, the pool was built the following year at a cost of £9,529 and opened on June 4 1934.
During the Second World War, the pool provided recreation – and showers – for locally-based troops.
Following the war, it quickly retained its former glory, and became a major attraction for visitors from a wide area including Aberdeen.
The Stonehaven pool is acknowledged as a four-star visitor attraction and brings people from far and wide.