Cotswold Water Park

The Cotswold Water Park is the United Kingdom's largest water park.

Unlike the name suggests it is not a water fun park but a rural area with many lakes created by previous and current gravel extraction. The lake area is very varied and encompasses a wide variety of recreational activities including sailing and fishing.

It consists of 147 numbered lakeswhich were formed by allowing old gravel quarries to become filled with water.

The area comprises approximately:

• 40 square miles (100 km²) of countryside
• 40 different lake owners
• 74 fishing lakes
• 10 lakes with SSSI status
• 150 kilometres (93 miles) of pathways, bridleways and cycleways
• 6,000 years of habitation
• 20,000 residents

The area is a mix of nature, recreation, rural villages and holiday accommodation.

There is clear evidence that people have been living in this area for the past 6000 years, but it is only in the last 50 years that the landscape has been transformed through gravel extraction.

Location

The Western part is located by the A419 road, on the River Thames (not far from its source) and the River Churn, about five miles south of Cirencester, on the border between Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, near the villages of South Cerney and Ashton Keynes. The Eastern part is near the A417, on the River Coln, lying between Fairford and Lechlade. The site straddles the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire boundary. Some of the more recently created lakes have been connected to the River Thames, which flows amongst them. The lakes and the river are linked by large underground pipes to act as a flood defence scheme. If too much water falls in the area it is be taken in by the lakes and subsequently passed on down the river. In addition to these, there are many water spillways leading from the Thames to the few remaining fields.

Amenities

The park is popular for birdwatching. There are many water sports and other activities available. The of the most important of which is the South Cerney Outdoor Education Centre.A non-profit organisation to promote outdoor learning and provide outdoor activities, events and expeditions for Youth Groups, School Groups and College groups on a daily or residential basis. Located at a 47-acre lake, the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of significant beauty.

Only a small number of the lakes are accessible for public use. The Site of Special Scientific Interest extends to 337 acres (136 ha).

External links

Media related to Cotswold Water Park at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Site
• Cotswold Water Park
• South Cerney Outdoor Centre Official Site
• Cotswold Country Park
• South Cerney Village