New Bath Lido

It is one of those mixed weather days where the sky cannot decide if it is sunny or raining. I am on a bit of a lido splurge at the moment. I have started a bit late in the year as most are closing now for the season, but my enthusiasm is spurred by a wonderful book I am reading by Christopher Beanland: Lido: A dip into outdoor swimming pools. Not in the book, but I found a fantastic looking pool about an hour north in Matlock Bath, a small town famous for its bathing history. A swim plus a trip to an interesting little town I recall visiting almost 40 years ago sounded perfect.

The New Bath Lido is a 40 yard pool, natural spring fed, unheated, chlorine free and filter free. Water rises from the ground at one end and drains out at the other.

I booked my session online while standing at the gate (easiest way to pay) and signed into the book. I could already see the pool and it looked glorious. About eight swimmers were working their way up and down the four speed lanes. The pool is flanked by the hotel on one side and the pool office and changing hut on the other. The surrounding lawns and mature gardens have deck chairs and picnic tables. The sun came out as I arrived and it looked about as English as you can get.

I headed to the changing rooms for a friendly welcome from the team, then out to the pool deck. I left my bag under the canopy cover as it started to rain. I had read the pool rules and had my swim cap ready, but had not brought flip flops. A member of the team pointed me to a borrow bin and I found a pair to make the short trip across the lane end. The rule is because the pool deck is the domain of badgers at night and they want to avoid anyone stepping in badger dung and then taking that into the pool. Completely understandable for a chlorine free pool. Quick chat with the team, double check the pool length and we are ready.

Jump in near the deep end (the cold end). Yep, it is definitely about 18 degrees. I set 40 yards on the Garmin and aimed for a light 2,000 yards. Not quite cold enough for the frozen forehead, but it took a few lengths for the slight skin burn to fade. Early on I kept trying to work out how many lengths 2,000 yards would be and kept coming up with the wrong answer. Must be the cold. For the record, it is 50 lengths.

These cold water swims this week have been helping the shoulder injury I am still carrying. It is getting better but still clicking. I experimented with breathing more to the left and, when I do that, the shoulder does not click, so it is clearly some deep pull issue with my left arm when I turn my head to breathe to the right. I had my first step telephone appointment with the doctors this afternoon, so hopefully I will soon find out exactly what is going on.

Swim done, I headed a few hundred yards down the road into town for fish and chips and a pint by the river.

Matlock Bath has a long spa and bathing story, and New Bath adds to that with its spring that feeds the pool and the original Victorian thermal baths on site. The hotel sits along one side of the lido, giving the place a classic old resort feel.