Cellardyke Seaside Sauna Fife – My First Tidal Pool Swim

I’d dipped in the sea at one sauna and used a cold plunge tub at another, but I’d never swum in a tidal pool. Cellardyke was my first.

I’d seen photos beforehand, but I hadn’t realised quite how big or deep the pool was.

Getting there

I’d been to Cellardyke plenty of times before, but I’d never driven right down to the tidal pool. The final stretch is very narrow, steep and winding, running through the caravan park towards the shore. I parked beside the sauna, but it’s not a drive I’d choose to do again.

Next time, I’d park in Cellardyke or Anstruther and walk along the coast instead. As well as avoiding the drive down, I think arriving on foot would make the visit even better, especially on a nice day.

The sauna sits right by the seawall, with rocks below and an uninterrupted view out to sea. There was a coffee van parked beside it too, although unfortunately it was closed the morning I visited. It was quiet when I arrived, and seeing the tidal pool properly for the first time, I was surprised by just how big it was.

Inside the sauna

The sauna has floor to ceiling windows looking straight out to sea, and for the first twenty minutes I had the whole thing to myself. I’d never had a sauna completely to myself before, and I really enjoyed just sitting in the heat and looking out at the water.

The host checked in from time to time and would open the door slightly if it was getting too hot. Sessions are capped at six people, so even when it’s fully booked, there’s plenty of space for everyone.

Into the water

The tidal pool isn’t right beside the sauna, so there’s a short walk across the gravel car park to reach it. That does take a little time out of the session, so I managed two dips rather than the three or four I might have done if the water had been closer.

There’s a ladder to get in and out, and I hadn’t realised just how deep the pool would be. Once I was in, I couldn’t touch the bottom.

A couple of regular swimmers were getting out as I was getting in. I remember telling them how freezing the water felt, only for them to tell me this was nothing compared with winter. They swam there every morning and advised me to ease myself in gradually.

Once I’d settled my breathing, I swam for a few minutes rather than trying to make it all the way across the pool. The regular swimmers had left by then, and for a while I had the whole pool to myself.

The pool’s history

It wasn’t until after my visit that I looked into the history of Cellardyke Tidal Pool and discovered the story behind it.

The pool dates back to the 1930s. It was originally intended to be part of a much bigger plan to build a golf course on the land above the shore. The golf course never went ahead, but a boating pond and bathing pool were built instead. The bathing pool became known locally as the Bathie, and the neighbouring boating pond as the Pond.

What really surprised me was finding out what was underneath the water I’d just been swimming in. There are five old cannons in the bed of the pool, including three 19th century artillery pieces, an 18th century naval gun and a smaller 19th century piece. I’d been swimming over them without having any idea they were there.

As cheap package holidays abroad became more popular in the 1960s and 70s, the pool fell out of favour and eventually into disrepair. Decades later, local swimmers began clearing rocks and stones from it themselves. Their efforts eventually grew into a much bigger community restoration project, backed by fundraising and support from Fife Council.

The Glasgow crew

The other people booked onto the social sauna session were a group of students from Glasgow who arrived about twenty minutes late. They were staying nearby and had underestimated how long it would take them to walk over. They were a little worse for wear from the previous night, and good company once they arrived.

In a sauna that size, you naturally end up joining in with each other’s conversations. At one point they were talking about a club night one of them had ended up at in St Andrews a while back. The story got increasingly wild, and it sounded very different from the St Andrews nightlife I’d imagined. I joked that I’d have to look the club up for myself.

Afterwards

I finished with one last warm up in the sauna, with the Glasgow students back in too. By the end of the session, I was thinking that a sauna and a cold swim might actually be a pretty good way to spend a hungover morning.

Before they left, they asked me to take a group photo of them outside the sauna. There aren’t any changing rooms on site, so I got dressed beside my car under my changing robe. There is a public toilet nearby if you’d rather change indoors.

I stayed for a little while afterwards, chatting to the host before heading home.

How it felt overall

The tidal pool was what made this one stand out for me. It was completely different from dipping in the sea or getting into a cold plunge tub. You’re swimming in seawater right by the sea, but within the walls of the pool rather than out in open water. There’s enough space and depth to have a proper swim, which I really enjoyed.

I’d definitely go back, and next time I’d take my fiancé with me. I’d make more of the day too, with a walk along the coast, the sauna and a swim, then somewhere for food afterwards. It’s the kind of visit you could easily turn into a really good day out.