Water and ice

What do you do when the temperature sinks below zero? Well I like to go for a swim, a habit I acquired years ago while living in Iceland.

Just up the road is the Dunblane hydro, built in 1878 when hydropathic spas were popular in central Scotland where people came to "take the waters".

The reason for opening a Spa Resort on this site was due to the Mineral Wells at Comrie, 17 miles to the north, which had been discovered in 1813, and provided a valuable and therapeutic source of pure water. When the Hydro opened there was a resident doctor, Dr. Clark advising up to forty resident guests who came to drink three glasses of the "waters" each day as well as other hydropathic treatments which were believed to cure rheumatism, alcoholic related diseases, depression and other illnesses.

People flocked to the Dunblane Hydropathic. Whether written by happy guests or perhaps as marketing blurb at the time, the archives are filled with such comments as " it woos the tired mind to sanity" and "the bright sunshine and bracing air puts vigour into the steps of men and paints roses on the cheeks of ladies".

Today the hotel is a popular resort hotel and a small modern pool one has replaced the original swimming pool.