Annan Swimming Pool

Annan Swimming Pool sits just south of Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway, serving the local community with a straightforward leisure facility. It's a functional indoor pool - nothing fancy, but genuinely useful if you're camping nearby and the Scottish weather turns grim, which it will.

The pool itself is modest in scale. You get a decent-sized main pool for lap swimming and lengths, plus a shallower area that works fine for younger kids learning to swim. The changing facilities are basic but adequate, and there's usually a bit of warmth radiating off the water on cold days - a proper relief when you're on a camping holiday and fancy a proper wash-off after hiking.

It's worth knowing upfront: this isn't a water park with slides and lazy rivers. It's the kind of place locals use regularly, which means you'll spot school groups mid-week and busier periods during school holidays. Go midweek morning if you want space and calm.

For families based at Queensberry Bay, Glendale, or Hoddom Castle - all within 3-5 miles - this beats sitting in a caravan if the weather's duff. Kids who like swimming will get a solid session in; those who need entertainment beyond water will be bored within forty minutes.

Check opening times ahead of your trip - community pools sometimes shift their hours seasonally. Entry fees are reasonable but confirmation beats a wasted journey. Allow ninety minutes start to finish if you're going for a proper swim.