Our Story:

Cellardyke tidal pool and boating pond has been fondly referred to over the years by various names. When it first opened it was named the Cardinal Steps, and has also been known as the Bathie (bathing pool) and the Pond (boating pond). The pool was built in the 1930s as part of an initiative to generate more tourism to the east of Cellardyke. The boating pond wall was built on the natural rock formation of skellies that you can see in our logo. With more foreign travel available, the tidal pool declined in popularity in the 1960s and fell into disrepair. Then, with the global COVID pandemic in 2020, people began to focus more on what they had locally that could support their physical and mental wellbeing, and the tidal pool came back into focus.

A group of dedicated and committed local people got together to form Cellardyke Tidal Pool Ltd, a not-for-profit initiative to increase access to the tidal pool by making it safe and accessible for all ages. We want to make the life skills intrinsic to sea swimming open to all. Our mission is to renovate Cellardyke’s beloved beauty spot back to life, to attract a wider audience to our magnificent tidal pool and into our vibrant rural community.

The pool is now used by a wide range of people: wild swimmers, model boat owners, children catching crabs, paddle boarders, canoeists and kayakers. Swimming groups, like the Nae Richters, meet daily to swim together and then sit with hot water bottles and hot drinks by the side of the pool. You can hear them having a blether and a laugh each morning – camaraderie is a big part of the experience. The tidal pool is a focus for our community and connects people to each other as well as to our surroundings.

The shock of the cold, the beauty of the sunrise, the connection to the wildness of the sea and to the natural world around us, all these things make us feel lucky to be rooted to this place.

Our Climate Commitment:

We promise to care for and maintain our coastal pool, keeping it accessible and safe for everyone so that it can be used by all. By doing this we help to improve our mental and physical wellbeing and that of the people in our community.