Stonehaven Heated Open Air Swimming Pool, Stonehaven, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Stonehaven Heated Open Air Swimming Pool is a seawater-side lido on the seafront of Stonehaven, a harbour town on the north-east coast of Scotland. It is an Art Deco-era outdoor pool that still operates in the summer season, and swimming in heated water with the North Sea just beyond the wall is the reason people come.

The story behind it

The pool opened in the 1930s, in the years when Britain built lidos for seaside holidaymakers and local families. Most of those outdoor pools have since closed or been replaced by indoor leisure centres, which makes a working one on a Scottish beachfront unusual.

It sits in Queen Elizabeth Park on The Links, between the town's beach and the green space behind. Its heated water is what sets it apart from the cold sea beside it, and it has long made outdoor swimming practical in a place where the weather is far from guaranteed.

What to look for

• The long, rectangular pool itself, laid out in a simple, clean-lined style typical of the lido era.
• The view across the beach and bay, with the sea close enough that you can hear it from the poolside.
• Steam rising off the heated water on a cool morning, a sharp contrast with the air and the sea nearby.
• The wide sweep of Stonehaven bay, which you can take in from the promenade and the park around the pool.

Tips for your visit

• The pool is seasonal and weather-dependent, so check current opening hours and whether it is running before you set out.
• Bring a swimsuit and towel if you plan to swim, and allow an hour or so for a swim plus a walk along the front.
• Go on a calm, bright day in summer for the best experience, and expect it to be busiest in school holidays and on warm afternoons.
• The beach, the promenade and the old harbour are within an easy walk, and the town centre is close for food and a hot drink afterwards.

Explore it on a quest

Stonehaven is a compact town that rewards walking, from the seafront to the harbour and the streets behind it. Discover it on foot with one of Questo's self-guided quests in Stonehaven, where the app leads you from place to place, tells you about each stop and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you.