Reminiscing about the good old days when life was much easier, when all we needed was a dip in the water on a hot summer’s day. Many still remember one of the only tidal lidos in Scotland, and the first of its kind, Tarlair Lido. The Art Deco swimming pool was ahead of its time, located in a rocky bay.
Tarlair Lido opened in the summer of 1931, boasting concrete structures and a modest design. Located in Macduff in Aberdeenshire, the spot features three bodies of seawater for a paddling pool, boating “lake” and swimming pool.
Designed by architect John C Miller, Tarlair Lido was only one of three of its kind in Scotland. Many locals and visitors alike enjoyed the outdoor pool over the years, coming in the morning and staying all the way until close. However, the early 90s proved to create challenges for the pool, as more people migrated to nearby indoor pools, losing its status of “top swimming destination” that it firmly held between the 50s and 70s.
Tarlair Lido restoration works
As a result, the pool got closed down, and was completely abandoned until 2012. Now, Tarlair Lido is being revived once again by a volunteer-led organisation Friends of Tarlair, who had put in 12 years of hard work to help restore it to its former glory. While visitors cannot swim at the pool yet, there are hopes for that swimmers can enjoy the tidal lido once again.
What is more, the cafe has now been open, allowing visitors a chance to marvel at the historic marine oasis and the sea views from its terrace. Guests can enjoy hot drinks, cakes and ice cream while exploring a piece of history.
For now, the pavilion has reopened to the public in March 2025, allowing visitors to explore the beauty and nostalgia of Art Deco architecture.
Tarlair Lido is open daily between 9:30am and 2:30pm, with no facilities currently open. You can find out more here.