In Counties of North Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire
Southern Cotswolds
5 miles from Cirencester and 11 miles from Swindon
Access via M4 from the South and M5 from the West
About the Cotswold Water Park
At 40 square miles the Cotswold Water Park is approximately the same size as the Island of Jersey. It is that part of the Upper Thames catchment in North Wiltshire & South Gloucestershire which has been subjected to over 50 years of sand & gravel extraction.
Cotswolds Water Park
The Cotswold Water Park lies to the south of Cirencester in
the Upper Thames Valley, which contains rich sand and gravel deposits. These have
been worked for 50 years to create 140 lakes - the largest man-made
complex in Britain - some 50 per cent larger than the Norfolk Broads
and stretching as far east as Lechlade.
Beneath the gravel lies Oxford Clay of Jurassic Age, from which spectacular fossil finds
have been recovered.
Back in 1967, it was designated the Cotswold Water Park by a Joint
Committee formed from the four local authorities - Gloucestershire & Wiltshire
County Councils, and Cotswold & North Wilts District Councils.
Today, 20,000 people live in the Park’s 14 main settlements.
Many more reside just outside the boundary and are affected by
its operations. 13,000 people work in 850 businesses, and more
than 500,000 visit every year.
For families an ideal day out can be found at Keynes Country Park,
with wonderful bathing beach, boat and cycle hire, high ropes adventure,
watersports centre, lakeside café, walks, nature reserves,
barbecues – please note that some of these have seasonal
opening times. Keynes park is open all year round. There is an
entrance charge but all proceeds go back into park improvements
and maintenance.
Keynes Country Park
Neigh Bridge Country Park
The Cotswold Water Park provides activities for everyone from
the novice to the expert. Water sports include sailing, windsurfing,
kayaking, canoeing, water-skiing, wake boarding, diving and angling.
You can visit and have a go at one of the water sports centres
or you can join one of the many clubs. During the school holidays
these centres run courses and have-a-go sessions for children.
For land lovers there are many activities including horse riding,
hiking, cycling, fishing, high ropes adventure, paintballing. With
a huge variety of accommodation and places to eat, plus a wealth
of delightful countryside villages nearby the Water Park makes
an ideal destination all year round.
If you are a first time visitor why not call into the Water Park Gateway
Information Centre located just off the A419 Cirencester
to Swindon bypass on the B4696 Spine Road – here you can
pick up all the information you need about the area. Open 7 days
a week 9am – 5pm. Coots Café within the Gateway
Centre serves excellent refreshments, cakes and hot drinks all
year round.
