Droitwich
is a charming little town in the middle of England that just so
happens to sit on top of an ancient and massive underground brine
lake. The salt industry made Droitwich a prosperous town, but
that's gone now. Instead, the hot, salty water, which leaves the
ground at 45 degrees centigrade, has a different purpose.
The Brine Bath is a small therapeutic pool where you can float
in water that is many times saltier than the Dead Sea. Uniformed
nurses help creaky old folk into the water, gently, gently. It's
a place for the sick, the salt is supposed to have healing powers,
yet anyone can go and visit and float, just for the sheer sensation
of it. Make sure you wear an old swimsuit though, that stuff can
corrode anything.
The brine is thick, with chemical forces that pull at your body
strangely. People who normally sink like a stone will float effortlessly,
they won't be able to help it. If, like me, you are fat, you will
be even floatier. The sensation is comical and fabulous. Swimming
is near impossible, your body sits almost on top of the water,
legs thrashing in the air. There is nothing to do but float.
Should you get brine in your eyes, there are jugs of water and
paper towels around the pool perimeter so that you can rinse yourself.
Salt crystalises on your hair, on your face, everywhere, and there
are notices urging users to rinse their ears, since the salt can
make a home inside your head.
You have to book your trip to the Brine Baths in advance. It's
neither cheap nor expensive. A session lasts about twenty minutes,
although you can get out and rest, then re-enter, spreading your
visit a little further. Don't make the mistake of staying in the
brine for longer, as I did the last time. My blood pressure dropped,
I had to fight against fainting, I had a pain in my left arm,
like the classic signs of a heart attack. That Brine can be dangerous.
After your dip, you might like to take a stroll through the park,
which may have been laid out for spa visitors of the past. Up
over a hill is a disused lido, one of the few in the UK that's
filled with - you guessed it - salt water. It's possibly unique
for its inland location. The lido was closed a few years ago,
but many people want this beautiful place reopened. There's a
campaign. You should support it.
Droitwich
Brine Baths
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Droitwich Lido
