Bathing culture once dominated Scotland’s recreational scene. Today, only a few of those former seaside resorts remain. The Tarlair Swimming Pool is one of them.
At first, it was about hygiene; then it was about fitness; and finally, public baths became social gathering places. The boundaries between the former social classes blurred noticeably here. The Tarlair Swimming Pool was such a place—and is now set to become one again.
Loch Craig Bay, a short distance east of the town of Macduff, was considered a suitable location to build another open-water pool in 1929. And so the Tarlair Swimming Pool was created, opening in 1931.
There isn’t just one pool—there are three, each serving a different purpose: one for swimming, one for boating, and one as a wading pool. These pools are surrounded by concrete steps where visitors could sit.
At the end of the upper pool, which is shaped like a D, a tea house was built in 1950. And that’s what gives Tarlair its distinctive appearance. It features a typical Art Deco design, with a flat roof where visitors can sit.
In the past, this place was teeming with swimmers who could arrive by public transportation—a novelty at the time. Today, however, the pools are empty. The water doesn’t look very inviting either.
The Tarlair Swimming Pools and the tea house are essentially “works in progress.” A group of enthusiasts, the “Friends of Tarlair,” are renovating the complex piece by piece. The tea house has already been restored to its former state, and inside you can already enjoy coffee, cake, and light snacks.
A unique feature can be found on one side of the teahouse: an extension made of green marble. It replaces an extension from the 1970s that had been haphazardly tacked onto the teahouse.
It houses a studio where people from the surrounding communities can meet.
So the main building is already back in good shape. But there’s still a lot of work to be done here. The pools need to be carefully sealed and restored. And if swimming is to resume, changing rooms will also be needed.
All of this is set to be tackled in the near future.
But even now, the Tarlair Swimming Pool is worth a visit. You can walk along the walls between the pools—though with caution, as it can be slippery. The coastline here also features interesting rock formations.
Right next to the facility’s parking lot stands the impressive Needle’s Eye Rock.
The Tarlair Swimming Pool near the village of Macduff is a community-driven project. With dedication and perseverance, a local association has breathed new life into this old, traditional coastal swimming pool. It’s precisely this spirit that you can feel here, making a visit to the café and the pools a special experience.
Photo tip: Take a photo of Tarlair from above
If you don’t have a drone but still want to photograph the entire facility, you have two options. Either stop at the bend in the road up above:
Or you can take the path on the other side up to the golf course.
Background: The Sad Decline of the Tarlair Swimming Pool
The culture of swimming began as early as the 19th century. Between the two world wars, seaside swimming pools experienced a boom. With the advent of local transportation, people could travel to the coast and spend a relaxing time there.
Many of these baths were built in Scotland during this period. In Arbroath, Stonehaven, Gourock, and other places, people enjoyed the swimming pools and wading pools.
But the slow decline began shortly after World War II. People were soon able to travel farther, and swimming was no longer as popular.
Tarlair noticed this too. Yet the bathhouse remained open until the 1990s. As a side venture, bands performed on the grounds. One of the most famous was Jethro Tull. But the former Marillion singer Fish and the famous band Runrig also performed there.
For these events, the operators drained the water so that visitors could stand in the pools. The scenery, with the surrounding steep slopes and the sea, was breathtaking.
Finally, in 1994, the band Wet Wet Wet came to Tarlair at the height of their career. It was to be the last concert held there. Afterward, the baths were closed, and they began to fall into disrepair.
But soon after, the Friends of Tarlair came together. Thanks to their energy, this unique monument to bathing culture now shines once again.
Directions
With a GPS: Enterthe postal code “AB44 1AE” to get there.
Without a GPS: Coming from the village of Pennan, follow the B9031 along the coast until you reach the A98 and Macduff. Once in town, turn right onto Moray Street, follow it to High Shore Coastal Road, turn right again there, and simply follow the road to the swimming pool. A parking lot is located at Needle’s Eye Rock.
