Shearwater Lake
Shearwater Lake
4.5
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Forest and lake.part of the Longleat stately home estate
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
180 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
51
Average
13
Poor
5
Terrible
10
Jerry S
S/W England26 contributions
Jan 2022
Never have I seen in all my years so many cars booked with penalty notices along one stretch of road. Car park full so for the first time we parked on verge of road about 100 metres down from car park. NOT ONE Sign politely informing people that you can't park there. No, what Wiltshire County Council do is send teams out slapping fines on everyone's windscreens.
At least 20 cars all the same, so we weren't the only ones. If Wiltshire Council really wanted to help & solve this 'problem' of cars parking here then they'd have the decency to put a few signs up - but no, let's penalise everyone & make huge amounts of money for achieving nothing & helping no-one. COMPLETE CYNICAL MONEY Making which is disgraceful.
Why would anyone expect to see the small obscure Clearway signs you normally see in big cities along a quiet stretch of road in the country? No houses, hospitals, schools, etc in sight - nothing to be achieved apart from robbing decent families of money. You are a disgrace Wiltshire Council.
Apart from that, nice walk around lake & in woods!
At least 20 cars all the same, so we weren't the only ones. If Wiltshire Council really wanted to help & solve this 'problem' of cars parking here then they'd have the decency to put a few signs up - but no, let's penalise everyone & make huge amounts of money for achieving nothing & helping no-one. COMPLETE CYNICAL MONEY Making which is disgraceful.
Why would anyone expect to see the small obscure Clearway signs you normally see in big cities along a quiet stretch of road in the country? No houses, hospitals, schools, etc in sight - nothing to be achieved apart from robbing decent families of money. You are a disgrace Wiltshire Council.
Apart from that, nice walk around lake & in woods!
Written January 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adventurer233989
2 contributions
Jul 2020
Visited the Lakes last week with my daughter, we drove to car park which is totally inadequate for the amount of people who visit, so turned round and parked on side of road like many others. Had a nice walk and visited the cafe for lunch, while paying my bill noticed a hit team of 3 council employees had arrived and we quickly issuing tickets to all the cars on the roadside, as i got back to my car they were making a quick exit in 3 vans which had been hidden down a track, this is daylight robbery as there are no signs on the road to indicate NO PARKING, so this is a warning really and may save you an expensive walk. I would have obviously rated this as high as a 4 if the council had not spoilt the whole day.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LizzieP69
Salisbury, UK46 contributions
May 2021 • Family
Just read on here today that you are not allowed to park on the approach road. We didn't see any signposts to that effect and parked happily on the road as did everyone else with no trouble. Not quite sure why the car park is closed though? Sign said coronavirus restrictions but we presumed this was historic and they'd just not got round to taking sign down. There were barriers over the walk around the lake but everyone seemed undeterred and had simply walked around them so we did too. The cafe was open so that was nice but slightly confused as to why the loos were closed. Longleat maybe need to have another look at the government website.
Written May 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S G
Shaftesbury, UK2 contributions
Dec 2020
DO NOT PARK YOUR CAR ON THE ROAD. you will get a parking ticket. The car park is always full on a nice day and everyone parks on the road, unaware that this is a clearway and therefore parking prohibited. Wiltshire council are very underhand, the signs are not prominent and there is no warning or signage to say No Parking on the road. It is regularly patrolled and the parking wardens have a field day, booking dozens of cars every time.
A lovely income for the council.
Park elsewhere and enjoy the walk and well earned refreshments at the little café here.
A lovely income for the council.
Park elsewhere and enjoy the walk and well earned refreshments at the little café here.
Written December 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David P
Trowbridge, UK2 contributions
Apr 2021 • Solo
Where I understand the current issue of green-blue algae is harmful for dogs the lake main car park should not be locked and also to not to have barriers across the entrance to the lake private road.
Surely a few notices could be put up warning dog owners that dogs must be kept on leads and the dangers of the algae explained so that a dog walker can make a decision. This way it will not spoil this lovely lake for other users.
The road outside the lake has no stopping signs which is also tough despite cars still parking there.
I think especially after lockdown this lake and car park should be fully open. If notices are put up there can be no blame or law suit on Longleat!
Surely a few notices could be put up warning dog owners that dogs must be kept on leads and the dangers of the algae explained so that a dog walker can make a decision. This way it will not spoil this lovely lake for other users.
The road outside the lake has no stopping signs which is also tough despite cars still parking there.
I think especially after lockdown this lake and car park should be fully open. If notices are put up there can be no blame or law suit on Longleat!
Written April 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bristolphil
Bristol, UK124 contributions
Apr 2021
Whilst I knew the car park was currently closed, I was very surprised to see the lakeside and forest walks were also closed off today ( 27th April).
I had e-mailed Longleat Estates a few days ago to ask about the car park and received a reply "In accordance with government guidelines and with people’s safety still top of mind there are concerns about the huge influx of people given not all amenities have reopened yet and this in turn doesn’t provide a safe situation and for the time being will remained closed until further notice." ( I had not realised this referred to the lake and forest as well as the car park)
I am personally bemused by this given I can visit National Trust gardens, and indoor shopping malls and associated car parks.... Let's hope it all re-opens again soon
I had e-mailed Longleat Estates a few days ago to ask about the car park and received a reply "In accordance with government guidelines and with people’s safety still top of mind there are concerns about the huge influx of people given not all amenities have reopened yet and this in turn doesn’t provide a safe situation and for the time being will remained closed until further notice." ( I had not realised this referred to the lake and forest as well as the car park)
I am personally bemused by this given I can visit National Trust gardens, and indoor shopping malls and associated car parks.... Let's hope it all re-opens again soon
Written April 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline816721
Southampton, UK3 contributions
Jul 2020
We met our daughter and grandchildren at the Lake having both driven from a distance to see each other. The lake and countryside is so lovely and ideal for a walk and picnic.
This however, for a number of people on the day we went and from a previous post I have read, was ruined by Wiltshire County Council (WCC) issuing penalty tickets to all those cars immediately outside of the car park. There must have been twenty to thirty tickets given out. Come on WCC, get your act together and stop ruining peoples day out. It is so easy to place no parking signs along the road across from the car park to make it clear, or even make extra bays to allow more people to enjoy this lovely place, instead of booking everyone every day. The signage in the area is currently very ambiguous. As much as we loved Shearwater with the distance we travel it isnt worth taking the risk of not getting a space in the car park which is small for the size of the lovely attraction that it is.
This however, for a number of people on the day we went and from a previous post I have read, was ruined by Wiltshire County Council (WCC) issuing penalty tickets to all those cars immediately outside of the car park. There must have been twenty to thirty tickets given out. Come on WCC, get your act together and stop ruining peoples day out. It is so easy to place no parking signs along the road across from the car park to make it clear, or even make extra bays to allow more people to enjoy this lovely place, instead of booking everyone every day. The signage in the area is currently very ambiguous. As much as we loved Shearwater with the distance we travel it isnt worth taking the risk of not getting a space in the car park which is small for the size of the lovely attraction that it is.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adventure364624
1 contribution
May 2023 • Family
This used to be a fantastic lake but now it’s been crowded with tiny allocated swims. You still catch fish but the magic has gone because of greed for more money. You are Sardines in a can. You can’t just turn up anymore. It’s downloading apps and all the rest of the rubbish. So many bite indicators going of at night it’s impossible to deal with
Written June 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesleypuplett
Sherborne, UK399 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
We went with our son and grandson. Lovely big lake and woodland to walk around. Our grandson loved going in all the gaps to find dens. Fed the ducks and their babies. Will definitely return. BEWARE careful where you park. The official car park is very small so everyone else tends to park along roadside as we did. Take note of the clearway as people who didn’t got parking tickets and there were hundreds. We luckily didn’t.
Written June 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol P
Oxford, UK7 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Really pretty place to walk round. Good for walking with dog. No anglers (we went in week) shame about the posh kids on bike with equally posh women, children had no respect on paths making people (including elderly) have to move on wet grass and mud out of their way. When comment made to women got told “they are just having fun” shame its at other peoples expense and wonder why they weren't at school! Anyway apart that was OK
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlie O
Devizes, UK11 contributions
Hi is shearwater open all the time or does it get closed at all?
bristolphil
Bristol, UK124 contributions
There aren’t any substantial gates. Can just walk in through forest from Centre Parcs end anyway
Ashley M
Trowbridge, UK7 contributions
On a walk yesterday from Shearwater to heavens gate I noticed some elevated viewing platforms amongst the woods,anyone know if they are able to be used by anybody who walks past? Do you need to pre book? Anybody here used them? What can be seen from up there? Thanks in advance.
Does anyone know if there are toilets facilities open at Shear Water at the moment with social distancing etc? Thanks.
Aldo & Liana
1 contribution
Is Shearwater open to walk around during this current time?
Alan P
24 contributions
Not sure if it is open but if it is there is plenty of space to social distance
janem
Bath, UK41 contributions
Are we able to bring our cayak and boat on the lake?
nickfaulkner1974
Bath, UK37 contributions
No sadly the sailing rights are with a private sailing club .....you can behave like an arse and upset people like previous review and no one will turn up !!...... but stick a kayak in the water !!! Lol they all cone out the woodwork !! Lol
Hi ,can you please tell me if there is any option for barbeque round this lake?little family picnic.Thank you
Witam.czy mozna tam rodzinnie grilowac i lowic ryby oczewiscie nie na grilla😀
Jane S
Warwick, UK49 contributions
How far is around the lake? Also is it well signposted? Is there parking nearby? Thank you
Mike N
Gillingham, UK308 contributions
It is a very long walk round the lake I've never done it.
No it isn't signposted you just come to it on the left on the way to the Bath Arms.
Yes there are car parking facilities.
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Claim your listingShearwater Lake - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Shearwater Lake
- Hotels near Shearwater Lake:
- (0.95 mi) Crockerton House
- (2.93 mi) Home Farm Boreham
- (0.62 mi) Bath Arms Shearwater
- (0.55 mi) Crockerton Lodge - holiday let close to Longleat.
- (0.94 mi) Botany Camping
- Restaurants near Shearwater Lake:
- (0.34 mi) Shearwater Lake Tearooms
- (1.06 mi) Las Iguanas
- (2.21 mi) Taste Deli
- (1.05 mi) Cafe Rouge - Center Parcs Longleat Forest
- (2.24 mi) The Old Fire Station