The Lido at Mount Wise

This small lido is on the bank of the River Tamar, near where it enters Plymouth Sound.

It is not surprising that it there are so few swimmers this lunch time,

because our summer weather has deserted us, temporarily I hope. 

The pools are not heated, so only these hardy regulars were taking the plunge.

Two properties with extensive river views.

Admiralty House, on the high ground of Mount Wise was completed 1793,

from whence the Military Commander could monitor all shipping movements 

in and out of the River Tamar, en route to and from the Naval Dockyard at Devonport.

The Ocean Court apartment complex was built nearly two hundred years later, at water level, 

 so that boat owners could keep a careful eye on their craft and be ready to set sail within minutes.

Blue and Gold

'Islands' at the Mount Wise Lido.

Early morning swimmers at the Mount Wise Lido.

On the Plymouth bank of the River Tamar, looking towards its mouth,

 where it flows into Plymouth Sound, the Mount Wise Lido serves the district of Devonport ,

which is undergoing a massive regeneration programme.

These pools will be a lot busier in a week or two when the schools close for the Summer Holiday..

The Life Guard's Chair. 

Winter at the the Mount Wise Lido

Let it not be too long before warmth and sunshine return to the lido.

When the pools sparkle and reverberate with the sound of laughter and splashing.

The Mast at Mount Wise

This 40 metre mast was erected in 1998 to commemorate the Naval Semaphore Station

 that stood on this high point from which semaphore signals from the Admiralty 

could be passed on to the fleet, anchored in the River Tamar below.

It was operated from 1806 till 1852 when it was replaced by the telegraph 

which remained in operation into the 1930s.

In World War Two its commanding position made it strategic in the defence of the Dockyards and Naval Base when Barrage Balloons were deployed from it to prevent low level attacks by the German aircraft.

At last, a clear, sunny, winter day,

Looking down from Mount Wise onto the River Tamar as it flows out into Plymouth Sound.

Lunchtime swimmers at the Mount Wise Lido

Last week we had a few days with very high humidity and the threat of thunder storms.
These swimmers were in  the freshest place for their midday exercise.

But next week when the school holidays begin they will no longer have the pool to themselves.

The sound of willow on leather.

The cricket season has got off to a good start.

Yesterday I was at Mount Wise Cricket Ground, the home of Plymouth Cricket Club,

where I enjoyed watching the Plymouth Second team take on North Devon Seconds.

North Devon are batting.

The batsman skies the ball.

All eyes on the ball.

Will he make the catch?

Yes he did!

There are few better ways to pass a summer afternoon.

Two boys, two dogs and a .......

..... tricky slide.

The Lido at Mount Wise

The Lido complex runs along the city shore of the River Tamar,

near its entry into Plymouth Sound.

Putting the world to rights

It is difficult to see what took the Nato leaders two whole days.

These 'Good Ole Boys' had cracked it in a two hours, over a couple of beers.

Look at me when I'm talking to you.

The fashionable Fisher-woman.

Curvilinear

Barely a straight line anywhere in an out of season, children's, bathing pool at the Mount Wise Lido.

Britain's Ocean City (2)

Looking out from the Devonport Column,
down onto the River Tamar where it flows into Plymouth Sound.

The 40 metre high mast, on the green hill of Mount Wise,
marks the spot on which was built The Mount Wise Redoubt ,
the guns of which could control all movement in and out of the River.

The grey, military-looking complex, just beyond the Redoubt, is The Royal William Yard ,
once the main victualling depot for the Royal Navy now redeveloped as a complex of apartments, restaurants, bars and boutiques.

Just beyond the Royal William Yard, in The Sound, is Drake's Island , which is just off Plymouth Hoe.

The small island on the horizon is The Mew Stone
which lies just beyond the eastern end of The Plymouth Breakwater  

Saturday afternoon by the river.

This is the walkway along the Plymouth bank of the River Tamar, at Mount Wise, 

heading towards  The Royal William Yard , (on the right of the picture)

the wonderful development of apartments, restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries and studios, 

in what was once the main victualling depot for The Royal Navy.

Two Different Worlds

It is only about a 200 metre walk, through the Mount Wise Lido,
from the location of yesterday's post to The Mayflower Marina.

Although the two anchorages are so close in distance they are widely different in character.
(Take a look back at yesterday)

Mid Winter in Mutton Cove

This is Mutton Cove, a small tidal harbour on the banks of the River Tamar, in the Mount Wise district of Plymouth, on a beautiful clear crisp winter's day.

A small group of  the "Good Old Boys"  who are lucky enough to have berths here, were enjoying a game of cards in the winter sunshine, in front their beautiful "shed". 

Shadows and reflections

There is often something forlorn about open-air swimming pools out of season,

even on a perfect winter afternoon when the shadows are long and the reflections are sharp.

There is even a shadowy self portrait