Around & About
Cherry Lakes stands at the heart of the Cotswolds Water Park.
This area of the Cotswolds is a leisure paradise. Whatever your interests you will be sure to find it here, from bird and wild life watching, to walking and cycling, or sailing and jet skiing, beaches and woodland, retail therapy in regal Cheltenham or finding antiques in quaint Cotswold villages.
Cherry Lakes is on the edge of the picturesque Saxon village of South Cerney. The village dates back to 999 AD, with a lovely Norman church built in the thirteenth century. The River Churn runs through the centre of the village, past two of the three local pubs, before winding it’s way along the northern boundary of Cherry Lakes. There is an 18 hole golf course, beauty salon and several well stocked village shops including an extended hours Co-oP . The nearby Roman town of Cirencester is also worth a visit and a good place to have lunch or a coffee.
As well as being one of the best places for Carp fishing holidays in the UK, Cherry Lakes is also a great base from which to enjoy the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival and Gold Cup in March, The Cheltenham Jazz Festival in May and the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford in July and many others!
The nearby De Vere Hotel has an excellent day spa. Ideal if you fancy a sauna or some relaxing treatments and time away from the fishing rods!
Places To Eat
South Cerney has three good village pubs, which all serve food along with a great atmosphere. Best of all they are all walkable and less than 10-15 minutes from Cherry Lakes. So leave the car, take a torch and enjoy yourselves!
The Royal Oak is the most modern of our village pubs and is worth a visit. This pub normally serves excellent food – more like restaurant standard than more normal pub grub. (Website: click here)
The Elliot Arms coaching house is a friendly locals pub also worth a visit. It is open 7 days a week, and serves food all day, every day except Sunday evening. Their menu is huge, with something for everyone! Look out for their special midweek evening deals. They also have a pool table in the back. (Website: click here)
The Old George Inn is very definitely a ‘village pub’ with low beams and a large TV and an open fire. (Website: click here)
The village also has an Indian restaurant and a good take away traditional Fish and Chip shop. If you don't want to eat out, we have an excellent Indian meal company which delivers as well as Pizzas.
Almost all local villages have their version of a quaint country pub with a great range of ales and delicious, locally sourced menus.
Why not try The Greyhound at Siddington which is just 3 miles away? (Website: click here)
The Wild Duck Inn at Drakes Island in Ewen, another nearby village, is also worth visiting if for the building alone, which dates back to 1563! (Website: click here)
Or try The Crown of Crucis at Ampney Crucis, Cirencester (Website: click here)
Enjoyable Walk
Thames Path
The Thames Path National Trail is one of only 13 National Trails in England. It follows the River Thames as it meanders from its source in the Cotswolds along 184 miles (294 km) of well managed paths through some of Britain’s finest countryside, finishing at the Thames Barrier in London
Cotswold Canals Towpath
The Thames and Severn canal was built to join the Rivers Thames and Severn in 1789. Whilst no longer operational along it’s full length, it’s tow paths give excellent opportunities for seeing some stunning wildlife such as Bats, Water Voles, Dragonflies, Butterflies, Glow Worms, and various songbirds such as Reed Buntings, Reed Warblers and Blackcaps.
Visitors to Cherry lakes can access the towpath from the end of Wildmoorway Lane, a lovely walk 15 minute walk from our front gate.
South Cerney Disused Railway Line
The line -opened in 1883 and closed in 1963- is a much used cycle path and walk way. From South Cerney you can go south to Cerney Wick or north through the village to Siddington. Lovely, quiet and wonderfully shaded in summer, we recommended it highly as an enjoyable flat walk.
Of course most people visit this area for the lakes which offer many amenities as well as walks. Why not visit the AA site ‘walks around the lakes of the water park’, link below
http://www.theaa.com/walks/around-the-lakes-of-the-cotswold-water-park-420502
or one of the Cotswold Water Park Map Guides
http://www.waterpark.org/documents/pages/walking/b41c1_002.pdf
which includes a circular walk around South Cerney and Cerney Wick, which incorporates both the Thames and Severn Canal towpath and the disused railway line and can pass right by the gates of Cherry Lakes!
For the Family
Visit one of the beautiful, quintessential Cotswold Villages of Moton–in-Marsh or Bourton-on-the-Water, or the Cotswold town of Stow-on-the-Wold, for a quiet day exploring combined with lunch.
Alternatively try one of the following:-
Birdland Park & Gardens
Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos. GL54 2BN
Tel: 01451 820480
Website: www.birdland.co.uk
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens
Nr. Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4JP Tel: 01993 823006
Website: www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk
Westonbirt Arboretum in the Cotswolds
Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QS
Tel: 01666 880220
Website: www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe
Castle St, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, Glos. GL54 5JD
Tel: 01242 602308
Website: www.sudeleycastle.co.uk
Chedworth Roman Villa