The summer season has me yearning for some outdoor swimming, so I decided to visit Plymouth's only completely free swimming pool - a luxury that some locals have right at their doorstep. Mount Wise swimming pools, constructed in the 1920s, have been a favourite spot for "multiple generations" of families, as shared by the friendly locals around the pool. This was my first experience at this free lido and I was pleasantly surprised by a few things.
One local compared the experience to being on a holiday abroad. After swimming a few lengths and basking in the sun at the pool's edge, I could see why. Read next: Incredible video captures wallaby hopping around Exeter Devon pub to be lost forever despite public outcry The freshness of the water, sourced directly from the Hamoaze, was another delightful surprise.
The seawater undergoes treatment before it is pumped into the pools, resulting in clear and sparkling water. One local woman praised the benefits of the seawater, saying, "It's nice for your skin, you feel detoxed. You can have an amazing swim here".
I had the chance to meet a local man who has been a regular at the Mount Wise pool for 60 years and he described his experience as fantastic. Another local woman who frequently visits the pool said that swimming here is "absolutely amazing". It was evident that everyone I spoke to held a deep affection for these pools.
The lido boasts two distinct sections: a dedicated area for families with two paddling pools, including an ex.