Southwater Country Park

Perfect for families

Enjoy a stroll around the lake, an adventure at Dinosaur Island, and a picnic on the beach

Southwater Country Park visitor centre has picnic benches and a view of the lake

Cafe and visitor centre

Sit back and enjoy the view from our lakeside café, serving food all day

Dinosaur Island

Follow the dinosaur footprints to our children’s play area, a must for little adventurers

Sailing boats on Southwater Country Park lake

Watersports on the lake

Dip your toe in the water and try sailing, paddle-boarding and kayaking

In this section

Watersports, fishing and cycling

Visit Southwater Watersports to hire open canoes and kayaks by the half hour, book a group session, learn a new skill or complete a qualification. The centre also runs first aid training, orienteering courses, team-building sessions and family fun days packed with activities.

Kayak and paddle board hire from £10 for half an hour
Open canoe hire (for families with children under 8 only) from £20 for half an hour
School holiday courses

For course times, dates and information on group bookings, visit the Southwater Watersports website.

Fishing

Lennox Wood Lake can be fished on a day ticket, available at the bank.

Castlewood Lake is a dedicated fishing lake that can be fished by members only. Southwater Angling Club manages the permits and memberships. This mixed coarse fishing lake contains carp, crucians, roach, perch, pike, trench and some eels.

Cycling

Cycling is not allowed within the park but it is permitted on the Downs Link, which runs alongside the park. Mountain bikes and pod trailers for small children are available to hire from Southwater Watersports.

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