Portsoy Outdoor Pool

The outdoor pool at Portsoy sits right on the Aberdeenshire coast, a proper slice of Scottish seaside nostalgia. It's the real deal - a saltwater lido that fills directly from the sea at high tide, so the water temperature and salinity change with the tides. You're swimming in the actual North Sea here, just contained within a concrete basin. Locals will tell you it's bracing rather than warm, even in summer.

The appeal is straightforward: jump in, get cold, feel alive. There's something defiant about a British outdoor pool that actually works with nature rather than fighting it. Kids usually love the novelty, though they'll need to be confident swimmers - this isn't a paddling pool. It's best visited during summer months when the weather's least likely to be vicious.

Portsoy itself is a working fishing village with character, five minutes from Banff. The pool is free and accessible, though opening times can be weather-dependent - worth checking locally before you visit. Allow 30 minutes to an hour for a dip and a paddle about.

It pairs well with a caravan base at Portsoy Links, just half a mile away, which keeps you right on the action. Sandend Holidays over the road offers more space if you're after something less hemmed in. The whole stretch from Banff eastwards has decent coastal walks, so the pool works as a fun stop rather than a full day's activity.