If you are looking for some heatwave relief this summer but aren’t a fan of a normal man-made pool, there could be somewhere else worth a visit.
It’s not one of the many beaches found on the long stretch of Essex coastline, but something a little different.
Woodup Pool, also known as Woodrolfe Pool in Maldon, is a very basic saltwater bathing spot that even has a little beach at one end.
The pool is filled solely by the tide controlled by a sluice gate, and flushed out and replenished every 10 days or so.
It’s easy to find next to Woodrolfe Park flats and Woodrolfe Creek and is loved for being a “back to basics” natural pool with no chlorine.
Open between May and September, the pool is free to visit and makes for a great place to take the family this summer. Visitors get to enjoy swimming in a green-grey expanse of water, overlooked by tilting masts, peeling hulls, and rickety sail lofts.
According to Wild Open Water, the pool measured approximately 1.5m deep in the middle/end.
But swimming isn’t the only attraction as the site is also equipped with public toilets, a BBQ area and picnic tables. There is no cafe on site, but there are a few a short walk away.
Visitors have raved about the Maldon pool, with one person sharing a Google review which read: “I love this pool. A real asset to the community. Beware of parking restrictions and check tide time before you go, don’t park on the sea wall at high tide! Almost lost one star as a crab got my toe once while I was there.”
A second visitor shared: “The pool is a good size for swimming and padding with a gently sloping beach at one end. Not suitable for diving.”
It must be noted that the pool has no lifeguard, so kids need to be attended to as well as weaker swimmers, however, there are lots of other events going on there, including an annual fundraising event that is held every summer (and has been since the 1950s).
It’s organised in aid of the pool, which is a cherished local resource, to raise money to pay towards its upkeep. The funds mean it can remain open as a free, public swimming spot.
Aside from swimming, the pool also hosts kayaking activities, but it does mean there’s less room for visitors to swim. A notice on the Tollesbury Parish Council website warned that Woodup Pool will be used for kayaking throughout summer, leaving “a small area for paddling only”.
Upcoming dates for this include Friday, June 28 between 5.30pm and 7.30pm, and Monday July 1, 8, and 15 between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.