Gourock Outdoor Pool

cc-by-sa-2.5: Dave souza at Wikipedia.

This is definetly Deep South but it is such an interesting place and I was surprised by how few people know it exists, so we thought it worth writing about.

Built in 1909 the Gourock Swimming Pool is rather unusual. Its outside! One of only two outdoor pools remaining in Scotland it occupies a pretty spectacular location, right on the banks of the River Clyde and looking across to the Argyll Hills. Its location is not just for show though as the water that fills the pool is actually taken from the Clyde itself. It goes through a process of filteration and cleaning during which it is also heated to a lovely warm minimum temperature of 30oC. Like a nice bath.

The idea of going for a swim outside is always nice and when we were in Hungery not so long ago we went along to the public baths where people sit themselves down in the morning sun and soak in pools of warm water. Getting to do so in Scotland and in such a interesting setting sounds great and its funny that the pool is not better known or more widely advertised. I'd imagine bus loads of students and tourists being up for a trip down the Clyde for an outdoor swim. It doesn't even really matter if its sunny or raining as you're going to get wet anyway and the water is heated.

It seems it is with attracting people from further afield that the pool have organised some fun sounding events. On Wednesday 28 July and 11 August (doors open 9:45pm) the pool will have an extended opening until midnight. With a nice clear night, you'll be able to go for a swim in the Clyde under the stars.

Gourock Outdoor Pool
Albert Road
GOUROCK
PA19 1NQ
Tel 01475 631561
gourockpool@inverclyde.gov.uk
Open May - September
Times vary but around 9am - 8pm most days. Check before travelling.
 
Links:
Offical Website
Gazetteer Article about the pool
Aerial Photos

A touch of glass

Found these images on the Internet earlier and they are great. I got quite excited when I read that these amazing pieces of stained glass were commissioned for a synagogue near Queens Park but unfortunately when I read on I discovered that:

"Sadly, the Queen's Park Synagogue had to close down a few years ago and all the windows were removed. Apart from the Dome, all the windows have been successfully incorporated into the Giffnock Synagogue."

This means the windows have moved to the blurred edge of what Glasgow Southside actually encompasses. Is Giffnock in the Southside of Glasgow or just outside?

The windows are the work of John K Clark a brilliant glass artist who has been creating works of glazing wonders since 1985 including windows at Oran Mor, The Piping Centre and Glasgow Cathedral and many more, in fact if you see any contemporary stain glass in Glasgow, chances are John K Clark was behind it .

John also has a great website where you can see all his work, find out more about the projects and even get tips on how the process works. http://www.glasspainter.com/

More images of Queens Park Synagogue

Text about Queens Park Synagogue

Greater Pollok Heritage Group

I came across the Greater Pollok Heritage Group's website the other day. The group collects and and exhibits photographs of the social history of the area from 1905 to the present day. Also on the website are local people's memories and stories of the area.

There is a collection of really great photographs, including the one above. This is an old mobile clinic, on the site of the new wedge in Pollok. It's a really great image.

There are lot's of images of people and events, like the image above. Which is of a local band playing in the late sixties. It's is worth a look through the site, there's lots of interesting photographs and stories, and it's being updated regularly.

Link: Greater Pollok Hertitage

Fore he's a jolly good fellow

On Saturday I had the enjoyable experience of playing golf. This is not something I thought I would say as I remember playing twice before when i was a kid and I hadn't really enjoyed it all that much. From memory all it involved was walking about fields looking for lost golf balls with an enormous mass of metal sticks strapped to your back.

But as it was my cousins stag do, I was willing to make a fool of myself.

I was a little nervous, stepping up to the first tea, with the rest of our group, all semi-regular players, watching on.

I set myself, swung the borrowed club and instead of the swish of empty air I had expected, I was pleasantly surprised to see the ball zoom off into the distance. Success, I had hit the ball, the others were quite surprised but not as much as me. Sadly, my next shot sent it into a nearby field, but never mind.
The course that I proceeded to hack round was the Mearns Castle Golf Academy in Newton Mearns, which is a lot closer that I thought, though its maze of streets are a bit confusing to the uninitiated, but that might have been due to Google maps directions being wrong.

Despite being very enjoyable the course did seem to be a little on the difficult side as we lost a ton of golf balls into the trees, bushes and fields.

Its only nine holes, but I think that's probably enough for beginners - though its still a long walk and I'd recommend paying £1.50 and getting a trolley for the clubs. A round costs £9 weekdays for adults and £7 for kiddies but everyone pays £10 on weekends. They are open every day from 9am til 10pm but they advise phoning and booking just in case.
The club house was very nice, housing a golf shop, gym, tuition centre, (With driving range and classes in chipping, putting etc. See their website for beginners or kids classes) and a nice bar/ restaurant run by Mr. Singhs Indian restaurant from Charring Cross to stuff your face with once you are done. Thankfully, the course is open to non members and does not insist you wear silly long socks, badly coloured jumpers or daft wee hats and you can get away with jeans. (My cousin even got away playing the last hole in a leotard - it was his stag do after all.)

All in all I was pleasantly surprised and think I might go back for another game sometime soon and try and improve on my score. Is +27 any good?


Here's a list of other Southside courses for those that fancy a game. Be warned that we haven't investigated these and therefore some are probably private courses where you need to go through some kind of rigorous membership initiation involving black socks, chickens and balancing on one leg.

Queens Park, pitch and putt - free
Pollok Park Golf Club