When the weather is scorching and the sun is blazing on your skin, there is nothing better than going for a swim in a nice, cold and refreshing outdoor pool.
Yorkshire is not always blessed with temperatures over the 25C mark, so when it is a scorcher, we have to make the most of it. Thankfully there are quite a few outdoors pools and lidos to choose from across the region - and we've also got our wonderful Yorkshire coastline to enjoy if you ever fancy a very fresh dip.
One of the most popular lidos in Yorkshire, which reopened earlier this year, is Ilkley Lido in Bradford. On Friday, there were huge queues just to get inside with lots of families flocking to the venue to take a dip and chill out as Yorkshire enjoyed its hottest day of the year so far.
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Visitors to Ilkley Lido are wanted not to bring alcohol, barbecues, inflatables, speakers or glass items into the lido for people's safety, and on Friday when the masses descended on the lido, our reporter Megan Banner decided to head along too.
And while she enjoyed the sun, her "peaceful" weekday morning was "disrupted" by schookids bunking off to enjoy the weather. She was then told off by staff for using her phone by the pool.
Here is Megan's review of her time at Ilkley Lido, and the problems she encountered:
Ilkley Lido is a stunning outdoor swimming pool with some great views of the green countryside. Ranked sixth best thing to do in Ilkley on TripAdvisor, I couldn't wait to spend my morning here.
The lido was easy to find in its secluded spot with plenty of parking. I arrived around 20-minutes before opening time (12pm) to find a huge queue wrapped around into the carpark - in fairness it did move relatively fast considering only one staff member was working the till at the time.
It cost me £8.60 for one adult ticket to the pool - more than you would pay for the average leisure centre I thought, but it's not everyday you get to swim outside in this country.
The changing rooms and facilities definitely needed a revamp and good clean - I admit I'm a slight clean freak but I wouldn't have liked to walk around barefoot in there, put it that way. Although there are plenty of lockers for belongings.
Finally, what I've been waiting for, my swim. I was expecting to go for a nice leisurely swim, on a quiet weekday morning, but couldn't because it was full of kids who probably should have been at school - OK we've probably all 'bunked off' at some point, but as an adult isn't it kind of irritating when the one thing you're looking forward to is ruined by people who shouldn't be there? I mentally made an apology to all those people I had ever annoyed as a kid.
So I sat by the edge of the pool, feet in water and book in hand. Just one word of warning: it isn't heated although I found the cool water "refreshing" on this hot day. A chapter or so in, I picked up my phone to message some friends and take a cheeky selfie but within seconds I was approached by a staff member who told me off, quite abruptly I thought.
As my head was out my book, I realised these staff members were running a very tight ship. Every kid that ran, jumped or bombed in the pool had a whistle blown at them and a strict telling off. I know health and safety exists for a reason but these kids are just trying to have fun right?
Completely aware I'm sounding like a nag - I don't intend to - Ilkley Lido itself is stunning, the pool, surroundings, and scenery is incredible. Complete with a snack bar - what more do we want? I just think there could be some improvements made facility wise.
I got chatting to one woman, who did not want to be named, while I was there who was equally irritated with how busy the lido was for the time of day it was.
She said: "I'm disappointed in this, and it's not going to get any better this afternoon. I came on Tuesday and I basically had it to myself.
"I just want to swim but I don't think I'll be in the water long, its full of kids - why aren't they at school?"
Another woman added: "Its disgusting, they should have attendance officers down here."
Overall, I do think it's a lovely place and will definitely return on the next two-day heatwave to enjoy the sun but, if you intend to just do some lengths in the pool then stick to the gym.
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