THE curtain has come down on another memorable year at Gourock Outdoor Pool as the venue closes for the winter.

Swimmers finished their last laps and staff wrapped up work behind the scenes as the popular venue opened for the last time this year on Monday.

The season was a big success after getting off to a flying start in May for the first year of pandemic restrictions since 2019

Louise Newman, 62, who started using the pool after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2011 has been for a dip every day.

She said: “Swimming here makes me feel invigorated.

"I might arrive tired or feeling down but then leave the water feeling refreshed, full of happiness and energy.

“I had to be here and do my last swim of the season.

“It was a perfect send-off really – the sun was shining, the view was beautiful, and I had the lane all to myself.

“I will really miss it over winter.

"It is such a big part of my life.”

The retired teacher, who previously worked at Greenock Academy, says that the pool brings people together and says she's made ‘friends for life’ over the past decade.

Louise added: “This isn’t just a pool, it’s a community.

“You might not speak every day with the people you see here, but you have a shared bond.

“When summer then comes around and you get to see familiar faces again, it is so nice.

“I can’t wait for next year.”

Fellow regular Cameron Smith, pictured with Louise and fellow swimmer Steve Scott, says the area is ‘lucky’ to boast such an iconic outdoor pool.

He said: “There is nothing quite like it.

"This season has been brilliant and I want to say thank-you to all the staff and the people coming here who make the place what it is."

While the pool has always been loved by locals over the past century it has been open, the venue has recently gained additional fame further afield.

In July this year, it was named first in a poll of 'favourite lidos in the UK'.

Marc McFarlane, who works for Inverclyde Leisure and oversees the facility, says that this season has seen an influx of people going to great lengths to visit Gourock.

He said: “One thing we noticed is that more and more people from outside of the area have come to visit.

"We have had people have come from all across Scotland - some even came from Australia and Canada.

“We had a lot of special events this summer, including parts of the Inverclyde Triathlon being hosted here, our starlight swims and our children’s sports day.

“On the days when the weather was scorching, the atmosphere at the pool was great and we got some really good feedback.

“The last day is always a bit emotional day.

“The people become more than customers, they become friends.

"So, closing the pool for summer becomes sad in some respects.

“It’s a real honour to work here - I feel blessed I get to.

“I want to thank the customers – old and new – for coming to visit us and hope we welcome everyone when we open again.”

One of the pool’s final out of town users this year was Aileas Pringle, from Edinburgh.

She cycled 30 miles from Glasgow to Gourock to go for a final dip before next May.

She said: “I decided to cycle in because I saw the cycle lane last time I was down here.

"It was special because it is the last day.

“This pool is unique, I haven’t been anywhere like it before.

"The views of the Clyde are amazing.

"I really hope to come back next year.”