> Send in accounts of your visits to lidos

Okay then.  Here are a few thoughts on some of the pools I've visited this year.

Sandford Parks Lido

This is my favourite.  The atmosphere about the place is so tranquil and easy going even when it's busy.  There's so much space around and it's easy to relax.  Very clean and there is a great cafeteria at the far end where they have old photos of the lido at various times over the past seventy years or so.

Ten out of ten as far as I'm concerned.

Brockwell Park Lido

Fantastic.  Very unique and is a close second to Sandford Parks.  There was a doubt over it's future but a company called Fusion looks set to take over the running of it from 2004 onwards.  I believe they plan to develop some of the buildings and give it a new entrance.  I hope that they don't decide to heat the pool as the cold water is part of the appeal of the place to me.

Downside: Looks a bit dingy from the outside and is horrendous to get to.

Greenbank Pool

Friendly atmsophere even if it tends to be very busy and is often full of screaming kids.  It's kind of hard to chill I suppose but the staff are great.  Loads of greenery and very clean.

Pells Pool

One of the oldest pools in the country.  Another good one though if a fairly basic pool.  Great staff again.

Gourock

My local pool.  A seawater pool which has a very distinctive smell (they really do overdo the chlorine in this place).  Lots of events in 2003 are helping to offset a poor year in 2002.  I have already taken part in one of the midnight swims and plan to again at least twice this summer.

Malmesbury

Probably the least impressive of the pools I've visited although my visit was tinged with sadness as it is due to close at the end of the year.  This is a great pity as Malmesbury is a pleasant town and the pool is one of it's best assets as far as I'm concerned.  It's a bit shabby but I don't understand why North Wiltshire Council are so keen to build houses on the site.  I will not be visiting their new indoor pool.

Cumnock

Saw it during the winter and thought it was closed for good.  It was all boarded up and plastered in graffiti.  However it's open and it's great inside.  A typical 1930s outdoor pool.

New Cumnock

A different outdoor pool from the above.  Newer but smaller and always full of yobbish children.  The heating was also broken when I was there and it was freezing.

Portishead

Probably the best views of any pool in the UK, you can see right across the River Severn from the terrace.  Let down by some ridiculous rules and regulations, and staff who refuse to come and go with their customers.

Graham.

PS Should be visiting Stonehaven this Saturday.  Will report back next week.