Glenogle Swim Centre

I was really pleased to discover that my new house was near a swimming pool. I like to swim fairly regularly but previously have not lived walking distance from a pool. So I’m really grateful that this is just round the corner as, during the cold winter months, it was too easy to put off the cycle to the pool for another night. Now, since it’s not such an effort to get to the pool itself, I’ll be going far more often.
I have been here for a swim several times now. — I really like it! I’m used to modern build pools or super sporty swimming centres but, with a restored Victorian pool, Glenogle Swim Centre is the first pool of its kind I’ve visited. I like the nostalgia that comes with it.
Service is friendly, the pool is always immaculately clean and the premises are safe, with several staff members on site. The staff at the front desk are always really friendly too which makes all the difference on a miserable winter night. — I’m impressed with my new local pool!

I’ve been a member here for about two months and this is a pretty decent gym. Its by far the smallest one I’ve ever been a member of, but so far it hasn’t been a huge issue (I attribute this to the fact I usually go between 10am and 3pm on weekdays).
My only gripe is the fact I have to book my fitness classes so far in advance because there simply is not enough room to fit more than 12 people in the fitness room.
The weights room is pretty good if you’re the only person there, otherwise it can be quite awkward trying to find a good spot for yourself if there is another person trying to do weights.

After a recent refurbishment I have to say this place is top notch for a dip. It’s a very reasonable £5.50 if you’re not a member and that includes the use of a mixed sauna and steam room.
I used to go once a week which meant that I couldn’t justify signing up for a monthly membership, as it works out cheaper to pay as you go.
There are changing cubicles along the side of the pool, and for that I’d recommend flip flops as shoes aren’t allowed, but there are changing rooms upstairs as well. That means you don’t need to sport blue over shoes when entering the pool area. Trust me they don’t do much for your street cred!
Now as for the swim, it’s lovely! The pool is a good length, about 22 meter, just long enough so you don’t feel exhausted when you reach the other side. Speaking of which, as someone who’s pretty fit, who can run a mile or three without collapsing, I found it so difficult to swim three lengths without needing a respirator. So that got my thinking; I must be doing something wrong.
So I signed up for swimming lessons. Now I grew up in the water but I was never really shown how to do it properly, you know, that effortless way. Oh how the lessons helped!
Back, front, breast, diving, tumble turns, heck even butterfly is a breeze! Well maybe not butterfly, I don’t think humans are meant to flipper that way!
And the price? £78 for 10 weeks, and the best part is you get almost 1to1 attention and you can swim at any Edinburgh leisure pool for the whole school term. That my friends is a double whammy. Great value and you feel like you’re actually meant to be in the water!
One star down as the men’s changing is pretty small and the floor is almost always wet, which has meant wet socks and bottom of jeans a few times. Regular dry mopping of the floor should do fix it!

Personally I think this is the best of the council run pools. I am not sure about the nude swimming nights mentioned below, they don’t seem to be signposted because I can’t find any record of them!
Done up over 2011 – 2012 with delays fitting any Edinburgh council project on opening at least I found they have preserved the Victorian aspects tastefully. The pool can be a little warm but I think this is due to the excess of light that filters in through the glass ceiling. I’ll take the slight heat for the beautiful light.
Gym is pretty small but got a selection of items that come in useful. They’ve recently stopped having plastic cups as part of an efficiency/​cost cutting measure so remember to take your own refillable bottle.
TOP TIPS
Get a cheap pair of flip flops to wear around the pool/​sauna
Take a water bottle
Bring some essential oils to stick on the sauna when no one is looking, can pretend like you are in a high class spa!

Great to see the pool back open! It’s clean and not too busy yet. Also the new sauna area is an improvement. The gym upstairs is quite basic but the studio looks good. The pool sessions are about £4, but at the moment they’re letting a lot of people in for free to build use. My only criticism would be that the reception staff are very slow — don’t seem to know what they’re doing. Maybe it was just the times I’ve been, but they don’t seem able to cope with people coming in yet. It leads to a fair bit of waiting around. But otherwise the pool is great!

The baths at Glenogle have recently reopened after an epic refurbishment programme. From what I can see there haven’t been any major changes — the double height pool with the traditional changing cabins is still there, as are many other period features. Everything does look shiny and new though.
The gym has brand new equipment — all the treadmills and bikes have ipod docks and usb ports so you can save your work out stats. However, the gym is quite small and gets very busy. There’s also no power plate and a limited selection of weights. You can go up to Ainslie Park for these though.
They also have a studio for classes. The schedule is pretty diverse and features classes suitable for all levels of fitness. Again, the only downside is that the studio is fairly small so you need to book ahead to assure your place in a given class.

Warning, nude swimming night seems to not be sign posted in any way. Imagine my horror to be confronted with loads of old men in their birthday suits and one, rather hairy, lady. It doesn’t make any sense and even though the human body is a beautiful thing that should be celebrated — it doesn’t mean I want to do breast stroke looking down at the distorted image of someone else’s nether regions. It’s frightening.

Although it’s closed from now until April 2009, this place will be worth the wait. The atmosphere is great — you might not think pools have atmosphere, but this one feels like you’re swimming in another time! The glass roof is fabulous, especially on sunny mornings. It’s really cheap and often quiet so great for getting a relaxing swim in.

Opened in 1900, Glenogle baths next to the Stockbridge colonies has to be one of the best kept secrets in Edinburgh. It’s cheap, the staff are fantastic and the vaulted, double height glass ceiling is fabulous to look at as you do the backstroke. It even has the authentic victorian individual changing stalls around the edges and a small gym and sauna upstairs.