Opened in May 1936 the Portobello Lido had the first open air wave machine, and its water was heated from the adjacent power station. It was closed in 1979 and demolished in 1988. Copyright undetermined. Image courtesy of University of St Andrews Library.
Cellardyke pool or “the Bathie” as it was known locally was opened in June 1933. In 2019 a group of local people formed the Cellardyke Tidal Pool Ltd so that they could restore and regenerate the pool, which was completed in 2024.
The remains of the base of the diving board can still be seen at the pool at Cellardyke. The board and a chute were installed in 1934. Part of the pool had to be deepened to accommodate them - achieved by blasting the bedrock with dynamite!
The Pittenweem tidal swimming pool has a rich history, with references dating back to 1895. However, the pool took its current shape during its 1950s heyday. After a period of decline, the pool was revitalized and reopened in 2021 as part of the West Braes Project, a community-led initiative aimed at rejuvenating the area.
Tidal swimming pools around the coast of Scotland have long been in decline, but recent interest in wild swimming has led communities to see the benefits and value of these historic pools. Thanks to groups in places like Cellardyke and Pittenweem in Fife, many pools have been revitalised. #CoatArch