Park in the Past

My first time here found it on GoPaddle app but really glad I did!
Beautiful location! Warm welcome and find farewell.
It really felt like a step in the past too leaving your things on the side of the lake and knowing that the other people there wouldn't pinch anything, it was like leaving the front door open.

Anyways beautiful location and so so relaxing!

What a palava!

For our first visit.. no one on gate so was chased over the carpark after being seen by the person meant to be on the gate...(?) Stopped and then told where to park, further than I planned.. there were near by spaces.

Paid to get in; £2 per person for a walk.. dogs are free. Ticket was described as a 'permit' and told to keep it handy if asked to show it (2 middle aged women and 2 dogs). Time in the Park is 'time limited' 3hrs.

On our walking route we got asked for 'dog permit' by a guy in a car paroling the walk route, who then wanted to have a friendly chat... he meant the adult entrance permit. We both thought that this was unnessary.

Also having paid for a time limited visit, chatting to a member of the Park team for 'their role' was not on my visiting agenda, as friendly as they meant to be, gave me mixed feelings about being at the park.. scrutinised, untrusted, policed.

One person, friendly enough, kept an eye open and stopped us and directed us to an unsigned makeshift bridge leading to the lake and explained that there was a bridge to cross a wide stream hidden by the trees.

I really support the idea of a community run Park with all of the amazing facilties here but felt like I was not meant to be there and unwelcome.

I'm sure there's a better way to manage a resource with so much potential where visitors can go and actually 'relax' in a lovely natural environment.. perhaps needs some more development and potentially apply for environmental grants to improve the nature reserve and its groundwork management?

Cafe and toilets on site in the carpark - not at the lake where people spend most of their time visiting.

Can easily miss turning. I'm sure more signage will be invested in as the project develops.

In summary; great central place, amazing out door water resources, keen workers/volunteers. Needs visitor and signage developing.

The staff couldn’t have been more helpful, they were tripping over themselves trying to help. Information & help was superb, plus only £6 each to Paddleboard. Water was really warm too.
All in all we had a fantastic time here. Will definitely be returning very soon.
Thank you 😊😊😊😊

Great for paddle boarding, friendly staff, took the paddle board from the parking lot to the beach for me which was great. Dog friendly. Nice, relaxed and clean. Sure it will get even better when more development is done to it.

We went for a dog walk round the lake this morning which was great and very accessible. You can finish off with a coffee if appropriate. Swimming in the lake is also great. Staff are friendly and helpful
Would highly recommend.

The lake is a peaceful place, lovely to swim in. Small cafe, adequate parking.
Also nice for paddleboarding but it is quite a walk down to the water, staff will take your inflated paddleboard down when available.
Lots of interruption to the development of this place due to covid but it is a lovely and peaceful place to spend time.

Really amazing place to be all staff warm and welcoming and lots of wild life

Great place and once complete it will be incredible. The cafe cakes are very nice and priced very reasonably.
Sadly the park is let down by the Kayak rental staff member who lacks customer service skills. Very crude, rude and frankly slobbish.