Recreation & Access
Wild Leisure
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Cotswold Lakes extends across the three counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and a tiny bit of West Oxfordshire, with a great network of public footpaths, cycle routes and bridle paths.
The County Rights of Way teams do a fabulous job at keeping all this in order, and Cotswold Lakes Trust rangers play their part in maintaining public access on our land, nature reserves, car parks and country parks.
Footpaths
There are more than 100km of public rights of way in the whole of the Cotswold Lakes – and if you would like to explore more, then download a Leisure Map or pick up a free copy from the Gateway Information Centre near South Cerney, or have a look at the 1:25,000 Landranger OS map, ref 169.
There is a huge range of routes in this area, offering views across lakes, along canal tow paths, disused railway tracks and through quaint Cotswold villages and towns. You can spend an hour just taking a short stroll around a lake, or head off for a 12 mile route, taking in a few country pubs and villages on the way.
There is more information about Walking in the Cotswold Lakes on the Cotswold Lakes website.
In Spring and Summer: Expect to meet clouds of dragonflies and damselflies; the Common Blue Damselfly in particular can fly here in unbelievable numbers. Watch Great Crested Grebes as they act out their elegant courtship dance and see Hobbies displaying their aerobatics catching dragonflies overhead; later on, encounter bats feeding across the water and along the hedgerows as the light begins to fade.
Take a look at the Bird blog for information on bird sightings.
In Autumn and Winter: A quiet time of year for visitors, but not so for water birds – come and enjoy the winter spectacle of thousands of ducks as they arrive to winter here from northern Britain, Eastern Europe and even arctic Russia – Shoveler, Goldeneye, Teal and Pintail are amongst our favourites.
© Jill Bewley
Cycle routes
This flat landscape is great for cyclists of all ages and abilities, and with some great off road opportunities it makes an ideal place to bring the family for a day’s cycling. The Cotswold Lakes Trust runs various car parks around the area (please note some do have height restrictions and charges for non members) but why not start your journey at the Cotswold Lakes Visitor Centre, pick up a map and set off from there on your ride.
If you don’t have bikes, then you can always hire them from the operators within the Cotswold Lakes.
Please note that in the winter some of the routes can be flooded.
Bridle paths
There are some lovely circular routes for horseriders around the Cotswold Lakes, although in winter months some of these can be severely flooded.
The Old Railway Line
A wildlife rubbing plaque trail can be found along the Old Railway Line, which runs for approximately 6km between South Cerney and Cricklade. See Wildlife Trail for more details.
Badger excavations affecting part of the Old Railway Line between Cricklade and the River Thames
This section of the Old Railway Line is managed by Cotswold Lakes Trust on a long lease from Wiltshire Council. Part of this section has recently experienced an increase in badger excavations, resulting in surface holes and areas of potential surface collapse. The Trust is concerned about the subsequent implications for public safety and has recently erected several warning signs. The Trust is also monitoring the situation regularly. Since the Badger is a protected species (under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992) the Trust cannot simply fill in the holes or undertake any other repairs without formal permission from Natural England.
As such, Cotswold Lakes Trust is implementing an action plan (which may be subject to change), under which it seeks to find a remedy to the situation:
1. To seek professional ecological advice regarding:
a) the status of the current badger excavations
b) what measures the Trust are legally entitled to employ to mitigate against the damage in the
immediate and longer term.
2. Following the advice given above, to then seek further professional advice regarding possible
engineering solutions to repair the damage.
3. Once a suitable solution has been agreed, to take steps to implement such a plan with the minimum
disruption possible to all users of the site, including its legally protected species.
The Trust wishes to keep the site open whilst professional advice is sought on the ecological, engineering and public safety matters arising from this issue. Should advice recommend the need for a temporarily closure then the Trust will have to action that advice and will give as much notice of this as possible. As it arises, any further information will be made available on the Trust’s website, along with that of Cricklade Town Council. Please note: The stretch of the disused railway line between Cricklade and the River Thames (falling wholly in Wiltshire) is not a designated Public Right of Way nor Bridleway and as such is not the responsibility of Wiltshire Council. However, as leaseholders currently allowing permissive use by the public, the Cotswold Lakes Trust will continue to engage with the local authority with regard to its action plan above.
Seen something that needs sorting?
If you are out and about across the area and see an issue such as a tree down across a path, a broken fence, signs of flytipping, etc then please do report the issue.
For issues on Cotswold Lakes Trust sites, please email Cotswold Lakes Trust at info@cotswoldlakestrust.org.