The Blue Pool, Torwood.
This mysterious pool has been on my radar for a while and is part of my charity steps challenge for Maggie’s Cancer Centres, the total steps today are 28,362, which equates to about 22.3 km or almost 14 miles. My running total is 253,791, about 86 miles.
20-feet in diameter and filled with a varying level of what was once, surprisingly blue water, the colour has changed over the years to more of, what I would describe as turquoise.
The most likely origin of the pool is that it was an open air shaft leading to a mine that had been covered, although alternate theories such as it being used as an industrial dye vat were also proposed.
The last time I tried to find this there was nobody else around to ask, but lockdown means everyone is a walker, I asked a few folk in passing and found it quite easily.
The path is uneven, muddy, and at times, I popped over the small wall that runs for most of the track and found a way along without having to get stuck in the mud, I eventually found a clearing over the wall, but was still not sure if this was it as the pool is not visible from the track. I saw two lassies lying a distance away and thought that it must be what I was looking for.
I spoke to the lassies and they said it was drinkable, I laughed and one went over and cupped some water in her hands and started drinking it, they said had been visiting it for years and drunk it many times. I gave it a try and it is very drinkable, no real tastes, just normal good Scottish water! It's not one of those supposed bottomless pools and bottoms out at about 12 foot.
If you are thinking about finding it nearby Torwood Castle is on google maps head right at the castle, after you’ve had a good look at it, obviously. You’ll find a small gate on the left with a lane running off it, just keep walking until you see a clearing on your right. Oh and there’s a two thousand year old Broch in the area as well, so you have the pool, a castle and a Broch, pics of those to come.
