Wick KW1 5TN
If you’re interested to extend your tour of tidal pools, you can take a day trip North to Wick to visit North Baths and The Trinkie. ‘Trinkie’ is the Scottish word for trench, as it was created from a quarry over 70 years ago. This pool is much loved by the community who come together once a year to paint it.
E Scores, St Andrews KY16 9BE
In St Andrews you’ll find a tidal pool on Castle Sands beach. Castle Pool is surrounded by rocky formations which make this an atmospheric swim. The ruins on this beach were once a castle famous for its bottle dungeon, a pit below one tower which was dug 22-feet deep. The pool is hemmed by black jagged stones that point towards the shore like witch’s fingers, which is perhaps an omen for nearby history.
A short walk away you’ll find an aquarium that was once Step Rock tidal pool, also known as Witch Lake. Folklore says that women accused of witchcraft were trialled by water there in the 16th and 17th centuries. While wild swimming in Scotland you will likely meet more women than men, so it’s well worth noting the transformation of water’s role from harming to healing women in Scotland.
Play Park, E End, Cellardyke, Anstruther KY10 3AW
Cellardyke is a rectangular tidal pool sheltered from rough seas where the water is replenished each high tide. This coastal jewel is known as The Bathie or The Cardinal Steps Bathing Pool. In its 1930s heyday, it had a slide and diving board. For a long time only an old metal ladder remained but new steps have recently been installed, a sign of the rebirth of outdoor swimming as a local pursuit. It’s the little touches that make it so special here, including rainbow-coloured towel hooks hammered into the stone wall.
This place is full of stories of people being taught how to swim by their grandparents. You might notice multiple generations continuing the tradition on your visit, a heartwarming reminder that learning sea swimming as a life skill should be open to all. Swimming here is a communion with nature as you get the benefits of saltwater swimming without the risk of dangerous currents. It’s an immersive swim where you’ll encounter all the delights of the sea, including velvety seaweed and even hermit crabs in spring.
Although the pool is sheltered, the strong sea means the walls are gradually being battered by storms and the community must work hard to maintain the coastal defences. Locals meet regularly for lengths or a quick dip which Scots call a ‘dook’. If you need warming up, you’re near the family-run Anstruther Fish Bar where it’s rumoured only four fryers know the secret batter recipe that’s been passed down for generations.
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8 W Braes, Pittenweem, Anstruther KY10 2PT
Just a five-minute drive from St Monans you’ll find Pittenweem, a picturesque fishing village in the East Neuk of Fife. East Neuk is the Scots work for ‘Corner’ or ‘Nook,’ and this part of Scotland’s coastline is full of nooks and crannies. A tidal pool is nestled along one rocky shore. It’s designed in an amphitheatre style with steps built into the surrounding rocks, making it perfect for families looking out for children in the water. At the cliff-top entrance to the tidal pool you’ll find a hut where you can buy tea and cake, as well as an information board with recent wildlife sightings. It’s common to see seals, seabirds and even dolphins from this spot on the coast!
The pool was restored as part of the West Braes project which fixed a breach in the wall and replaced a broken valve. It’s this continued community action that keeps it clean and accessible. The Pittenweem team have been particularly ingenious with their fundraising efforts and created a mini golf course to help raise money. During your visit, collect a club and ball for a few pounds which goes to the upkeep of this local sanctuary.
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Fife Coastal Path, St Monans, Anstruther KY10 2DN
This clay-coloured pool is a spectacular setting for watching the sunset with the windmill reflected in the water. This East Neuk windmill dates back to the 18th century. Then, it was used to pump seawater into the nearby salt pans where water was evaporated to leave behind salt. This stone tower mill stands strong in the landscape as a symbol of the village’s industrious past. It’s a real testament to the ingenuity of the people who lived and worked here. Scotland’s largest exports at that time were wool, fish, and salt, and you’ll see archaeological remains of this history as you explore. A short walk from the windmill leads to the remains of the salt pans themselves. Beachcomb here for fuel slag, winkle shells, and shards of old pottery from the former St Monans salt works.
The tidal pool itself was created around the 1930s. Built into the rocky coastline, the design is a harmonious balance between man-made and natural elements, and it’s this rugged charm that the community appreciates and have fought to preserve throughout changes in recreational trends. From here, you can access the Fife Coastal Path for a walk with stunning panoramic views of Firth of Forth.
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92 Lower Granton Rd, Edinburgh EH5 1ER
Arrive at Wardie Bay via a scenic walk, taking in the sights and sounds of the coastal path. The sheltered positioning of this beach is because it was manmade, probably not long after the construction of nearby Granton Harbour. This area is rich in wildlife, so look out for seabirds including gulls, guillemots, and oystercatchers. There are even occasional sightings of seals on the rocks here!
Wardie Bay has been recognised for its outstanding nature and in 2023 it was designated as Scottish Bathing Water, meaning samples will regularly be taken to monitor the water quality. Locals play their part in protecting and improving the quality of the water here too as it’s become an increasingly popular swimming spot with its own community group, Wardie Bay Wild Ones, who meet throughout the year. With a gentle slope into the water, this beach is perfect for easing yourself into winter swimming.
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1 Promenade, Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 2DX
Similar to North Berwick, Portobello once had an open-air lido. Opened in 1936, the distinctive Art Deco bathing pool was the largest of its kind in Europe and had Scotland’s first ever wave machine. In its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of swimmers would meet to swim, use the diving boards, and watch from the spectator stands. A young Sean Connery was once a pool lifeguard! During the Second World War, the pool was closed and camouflaged to stop it being used as a landmark by enemy planes. British coastal towns were declining in popularity as tourist destinations so—just like North Berwick—the pool closed in 1979 and was demolished in 1988.
The lido no longer remains but you can pay tribute to Portobello’s history as a place for making a splash by swimming indoors at the leisure centre or outdoors on Portobello beach. If you’d like to learn more about the local history or be inspired by watery nature writing, visit nearby Portobello Books before your dip.
Milsey Bay Beach, Melbourne Rd, North Berwick EH39 4LB
When you stand in North Berwick, there’s coastal history to be seen all around you. If you look out to sea, Bass Rock is visible in the distance. It’s home to a large colony of gannets and often appears nearly white from the sheer plumage of birds! Fidra island is also viewable which is rumoured to have been Robert Louis Stevenson’s inspiration for Treasure Island.
Just below the Scottish Seabird Centre you’ll see a small harbour. The dingy park here was once an outdoor swimming pool. From 1900, swimming galas would draw big crowds and over the years the pool was improved with diving boards, changing rooms and even heated water. As holidays abroad became more affordable, North Berwick’s popularity as a tourist destination declined. The pool fell into disuse as the closure of the power station in 1978 removed what little heat there was for the water, and it eventually closed in 1995.
North Berwick still has a swimming spot though. If you’re at Milsey Bay for low tide, you’ll see a low sturdy wall revealed on the shore. This boundaried tidal pool fills at high tide and ensures a regular supply of fresh seawater. It was built in the 1930s to provide a shallow swimming area for children to paddle and play safely. Plan your visit around the tide, but if you have to wait, there’s plenty to do. Boat trips, ice cream or hike North Berwick Law where you’ll get an even better view of these cherished landmarks from the summit!
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Pier Pl, Newhaven, Edinburgh, EH6 4LP
The harbour at Newhaven dates back to the 1480s, when the local fishing community relocated here from the busier trading harbour in Leith, which also gave the new location its name. The area soon expanded as King James IV (crowned in 1488) instigated an expansion of the Royal Scots Navy and a Royal Dockyard was established in Newhaven by 1505, culminating in the construction of arguably the largest warship in Europe of its time, Great Michael (launched in 1511). As James IV and his army were defeated, Newhaven returned to being primarily a fishing port, including servicing lucrative oyster farming in the Firth of Fort; as well as a being the ferry terminal for connections to Burntisland and Lower Largo in Fife. As early as 1572, the Society of Free Fishermen of Newhaven, was formed, thus being one of the oldest friendly societies in Scotland.
Significant port renovations and expansions in the 19th century led to the construction of two lighthouses in on the North breakwater of Newhaven Harbour. The first one was build in 1830 halfway along the breakwater and features a smaller stone tower with a domed roof. Later, in 1869, a 50-foot high octagonal cast-iron tower lighthouse was built at the tip of the breakwater by James Dove and Company. These lighthouses were critical for the deployment of pilot boats from the Newhaven Harbour, with local families being well regarded and dominating this service in the Firth of Forth. Though decommissioned, this lighthouse still has a symbolic light within its glass dome.
Today the Heart of Newhaven community centre is keeping the Newhaven local community and its heritage alive.
Newhaven Village and Harbour https://www.allaboutedinburgh.co.uk/newhaven-attractions-edinburgh Newhaven https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/newhaven/index.html
Heart of Newhaven community centre https://www.heartofnewhaven.co.uk/
Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 7BZ
Port of Leith was a critical commercial and logistics hub, its harbour being the largest trading centre on the Scottish North Sea coast and the town being considerably larger than the neighbouring Edinburgh. There were several phases of harbour development along the estuary of the Water of Leith, quays connected with moving bridges, like the nearby Victoria Swing Bridge, built in 1874.
On the corner (of The Shore and Tower Street) stands the Signal Tower. Originally a windmill, this is one of the oldest buildings in Leith, built in 1686 by Robert Mylne. In 1805 it was converted into a signal tower from which flags were displayed to let ships know the depth of water at the harbour bar. On the opposite side of the road is the large building of what was the Sailor’s Home, a boarding facility for visiting and homeless sailors started in 1883. It was designed to house 56 seamen, 9 officers and 50 shipwrecked seamen. In front of the building stands the Scottish Merchant Navy Memorial, unveiled in 2010 and commemorating all Scottish sailors, who lost their lives at sea. Its panels celebrate the global shipping routes, perils at sea as well as noting the crucial role of Leith Nautical College and its training ship “Dolphin” in the training of sailors.
On the harbour quay, there is a preserved harpoon, a remnant of the Leith’s dominant industry of the past – whaling. Since early 17th century Leith whalers sailed North to Arctic waters around Greenland, as whale oil was critical for many industrial and domestic uses. In 1911, Leith had the largest whaling fleet in the world, owned by Christian Salvesen & Son and sailing South towards Antarctica, even establishing a whaling station called ‘Leith Harbour’ on South Georgia. However, the whale oil extraction left quite a bad smell, literally, with a ‘boiling house’ in Timber Bush. As it was owned by Peter and Christopher Wood, the smell was locally called “Woods’ scent bottle” – not something many people missed, when whaling finally ceased in 1963.
Leith Local History Society – http://www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/index.htm
Scottish Merchant Navy Memorial https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/87515
Signal Tower http://www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/buildings/signal_tower.htm