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.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles180 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
51
Average
13
Poor
5
Terrible
10

Jerry S
S/W England26 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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!
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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!
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
2.0 of 5 bubbles
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
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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.

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Shearwater Lake - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Shearwater Lake