Cotswold Water Park

The Cotswold Water Park is one of the UK’s most distinctive waterside destinations, offering a unique combination of lakeside living, countryside, wildlife and outdoor recreation in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Spanning approximately 42 square miles across Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, the area is home to around 180 lakes, many of which were created from former gravel and sand extraction sites. Today, these lakes have been transformed into a diverse landscape of water sports venues, nature reserves, fishing lakes, holiday-home developments and peaceful countryside.

Located close to Cirencester, South Cerney, Ashton Keynes, Somerford Keynes, Fairford and Cricklade, the Cotswold Water Park provides a very different take on waterside living from the UK’s coastal and riverside locations.

For those looking for a home, second home or holiday property beside the water, it offers an exceptional variety of opportunities.

One of the defining features of the Cotswold Water Park is the variety of properties found around its lakes.

From contemporary lakeside houses and apartments to New England-style cottages, lodges and larger luxury holiday homes, there are numerous developments where property owners can enjoy direct access to the water and the surrounding countryside.

Some developments are designed primarily around second-home and holiday ownership, while others offer a more permanent residential environment.

The result is a property market with a distinctly different character from traditional Cotswold villages. Here, the attraction is not simply a beautiful period property surrounded by countryside, but the opportunity to have water, wildlife and outdoor recreation immediately outside your door.

One of the area’s best-known waterside developments is Lower Mill Estate, a private lakeside estate and nature reserve situated in the heart of the Cotswold Lakes.

The estate incorporates several individual lakes and residential areas, including Howells Mere, Clearwater, Minety Lake and Mill Village, offering a variety of architectural styles and property sizes. Current properties range from smaller two- and three-bedroom homes to substantial contemporary houses overlooking the lakes.

Lower Mill Estate combines the appeal of a private nature reserve with extensive leisure facilities. Depending on the property and ownership arrangements, facilities include swimming pools, spa facilities, a gym, tennis courts, children’s play areas, nature trails and access to the estate’s lakes and outdoor activities.

For buyers seeking a holiday home or second home that can also provide potential holiday letting opportunities, Lower Mill Estate is an important part of the local property market.

Elsewhere in the Cotswold Water Park, Isis Lake and Windrush Lake are established lakeside developments offering a selection of holiday homes in attractive waterside settings.

Properties around these lakes are particularly suited to those looking for a combination of relaxation and outdoor activity. Lakeside walks, fishing, water sports and the wider Cotswold countryside are all close at hand.

Spring Lake, close to South Cerney, provides another popular waterside setting, with properties positioned around the lake and easy access to the wider facilities and attractions of the Water Park.

These developments demonstrate the breadth of the local market, with different lakes offering their own character, setting and ownership opportunities. Current listings across the area include properties at Spring Lake, Isis Lake, Windrush Lake and Lower Mill Estate.

For many people, the attraction of the Cotswold Water Park is the lifestyle that comes with living beside so many lakes.

Water-based activities available in the wider area include paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, water-skiing, lake swimming and fishing, although activities and access vary from lake to lake.

There are also opportunities for cycling, walking, wildlife watching and outdoor family activities.

The area is particularly attractive to those who enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. A morning paddleboard, a cycle around the lakes, an afternoon fishing or a walk through the surrounding countryside can all become part of everyday life.

For families, there are adventure activities, water parks, beaches and organised outdoor activities, while quieter lakes and nature reserves provide plenty of opportunities for those simply looking to relax.

One of the area’s best-known attractions is Cotswold Country Park & Beach, located at Shorncote.

The attraction provides a family-focused destination centred around the water, with a beach, swimming and outdoor activities during its operating season.

It adds another dimension to the area for families who own or rent properties nearby, while the wider Cotswold Water Park provides numerous other opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The Cotswold Water Park is not simply about getting onto the water.

The network of lakes, meadows, woodland, tracks and surrounding countryside provides extensive opportunities for walking and cycling.

The relatively gentle terrain around many of the lakes makes the area particularly appealing for leisurely cycling and walking, while numerous routes connect the lakes with nearby villages and countryside.

Dog owners are also well served, with numerous waterside paths and open countryside providing opportunities for daily walks.

The changing seasons give the area a different character throughout the year. Summer brings watersports and lakeside activity, while spring and autumn provide excellent conditions for walking, cycling and wildlife watching.

Winter can be particularly atmospheric, with the lakes and wetlands attracting large numbers of overwintering birds.

Despite its reputation as an outdoor leisure destination, much of the Cotswold Water Park is also an important wildlife habitat.

The lakes and wetlands support a wide range of birds, aquatic plants and other wildlife. The Cotswold Water Park Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was expanded in 2021 to recognise the national importance of the area for breeding and wintering birds and aquatic plants.

This creates an unusual combination of recreation and nature conservation.

For property owners, it means that even in a developed lakeside environment, wildlife and open countryside can remain a major part of the setting.

The Cotswold Water Park is not a single resort or town. It is a large geographical area incorporating numerous villages and communities.

South Cerney is one of the principal settlements and is particularly closely associated with the Water Park. It is home to a number of lakeside developments and provides convenient access to Cirencester and the wider Cotswolds.

Somerford Keynes is another important waterside village, with Lower Mill Estate located nearby and numerous lakes and outdoor attractions surrounding the area.

Ashton Keynes offers a more traditional village atmosphere, with historic buildings, the River Thames and access to the southern part of the Water Park.

Further afield, Fairford provides a traditional Cotswold market-town setting, while Cricklade sits towards the western side of the Water Park and provides another gateway to the lakes.

The historic market town of Cirencester, often described as the capital of the Cotswolds, is only a short drive away and provides a wide range of shops, restaurants, schools, services and cultural attractions.

The Water Park and its surrounding villages offer a growing selection of places to eat and drink, from lakeside restaurants and cafés to traditional village pubs.

Around the lakes, venues such as The Lakeside Brasserie provide a waterside setting, while the wider area has numerous pubs, cafés and restaurants serving both visitors and local residents.

The combination of lakeside dining and traditional Cotswold pubs adds to the area’s appeal as a destination for both short breaks and longer stays.

Although the Cotswold Water Park feels rural, it is well positioned for access to several major towns and cities.

Cirencester is close by, while Swindon provides extensive shopping, employment and transport connections.

The area is also within reach of Bristol, Bath, Oxford, Cheltenham and Gloucester, while access to the M4 and M5 makes the Water Park particularly convenient for weekend and second-home owners travelling from further afield.

London is also accessible for weekend visits, helping to explain the area’s popularity with second-home buyers looking for a countryside escape within relatively easy reach of the capital.

The property market around the Cotswold Water Park is unusual because it includes a significant number of holiday homes and second homes, alongside properties designed specifically for holiday letting.

Potential buyers therefore need to understand the individual development, ownership structure, planning restrictions, service charges, estate charges, permitted use and holiday-letting arrangements before purchasing.

This can vary considerably from one lake and development to another.

For example, current properties marketed through the local specialist market include homes at Lower Mill Estate, Isis Lake, Windrush Lake and Spring Lake, with a wide range of prices, sizes and styles.

The potential for holiday letting is also an important consideration for some buyers. Specialist local agents such as Orion Holiday Home Sales have extensive experience of the Cotswold Water Park’s holiday-home market and advise buyers and sellers on ownership and potential rental opportunities.

As with any property purchase, prospective buyers should obtain appropriate independent legal, tax and financial advice and establish the precise terms applying to the property and development they are considering.

The Cotswold Water Park offers something quite different from traditional Cotswold property.

It combines:

• Lakeside and waterside property
• Cotswold countryside
• Walking and cycling
• Paddleboarding, kayaking and other watersports
• Fishing and wildlife watching
• Family attractions
• Holiday and second-home opportunities
• Potential holiday letting opportunities
• Easy access to Cirencester and surrounding Cotswold towns
• A strong year-round appeal

For buyers who want more than simply a country retreat, the Cotswold Water Park provides an opportunity to make the water part of their lifestyle.

Whether you are looking for a lakeside holiday home, a second home, an investment property or simply a place to escape to the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Water Park offers an unusually broad choice.

From the established lakes of Isis, Windrush and Spring Lake to the private nature reserve of Lower Mill Estate, there are numerous different locations to explore.

At Waterside Properties, we specialise in property connected to life on or beside the water. Through our network of specialist local agents, we can help buyers discover properties across the Cotswold Water Park and the wider waterside property market.

Explore Cotswold Water Park properties with Waterside Properties and discover a different way to enjoy life by the water.