Located in Queen Elizabeth Park behind the promenade of Stonehaven, a half-mile (1 km) northeast of the town centre, the Stonehaven Open Air Pool is the only open-air Olympic-sized heated salt water swimming pool in Britain. Measuring 50m (55 yards) in length, the Art Deco pool is heated to 29°C (84°F). Run as a partnership between Aberdeenshire Council and the Friends of the Pool, it is open between June and September each year.
Built by public subscription and opened in 1934, the pool was well used until the 1970s, but popularity fell as holiday-makers headed overseas and it was earmarked for closure in 1994. The Friends of the Pool was founded in 1995 and fought a successful campaign to keep the structure open and a complete refurbishment followed. The renovation included the adoption of vivid colours, a new water chute, sun awnings and floodlighting, which permits popular midnight swimming.
The pool is now patronised by almost 40,000 visitors annually.