---
title: "Heights Leisure Centre"
description: "Sunrise swim on the Isle of Wight."
canonical_url: "https://havegoggleswilltravel.com/pool/heights-leisure-centre"
last_updated: "2026-08-16T10:55:57.865Z"
---

I'm on the Isle of Wight for a couple of days enjoying this spectacular British summer, staying in Sandown on the south coast of the island. I've set the alarm for 5:45am this morning for the quick five minute walk up the hill from the esplanade to the pool.

Take a moment to appreciate the spectacular sunrise over the chalk cliffs at the east end of the beach, question whether I should really be heading over the sand for a salt water dip, then head up the hill towards the Heights!

Arrive, pay the very reasonable entry fee, quick change and stretch, navigate the ocean of lockers then out to the pool deck.

It's a five lane 25m pool setup, with a single fast lane down the middle, flanked by double lane width medium and slow lanes. Nothing wrong with that. The lanes are just basic ropes, or in this case plastic rope, and they seem quite narrow, but not complaining.

Two swimmers already in the lane. Jump in and make a start.

It's a 'shallow' shallow end, so I have to adjust the catch slightly so I'm not dragging my fingers across the pool floor. The water temperature is fine, but it's a bit cloudy!

It's not long before I've got the lane to myself for the remainder of an opening mile, then work through some ladder sets.

Swim done, time to head back down to the beach for a cappuccino from Pebbles, then around the coast to the Needles.