Sophie’s guidebook
Food scene
Just a few doors down, great food and live music.
Come here to book activities on the water.
40 locals recommend
The Lakeside Brasserie
Station RoadJust a few doors down, great food and live music.
Come here to book activities on the water.
Delicious seasonal dishes and in house florist - Wild Thoughts Floristry.
You can walk here from Spring Lake - follow the old railway line, nice and shady on a hot day, and sheltered on wet days if you still want to get out!
13 locals recommend
The Cricklade Club
38 High StDelicious seasonal dishes and in house florist - Wild Thoughts Floristry.
You can walk here from Spring Lake - follow the old railway line, nice and shady on a hot day, and sheltered on wet days if you still want to get out!
Amazing food, great staff and awesome atmosphere - definitely book ahead for this one.
Beautiful beer garden right on the Thames.
11 locals recommend
The Red Lion Castle Eaton
The StreetAmazing food, great staff and awesome atmosphere - definitely book ahead for this one.
Beautiful beer garden right on the Thames.
The Greyhound - Siddington.
Great pub, nice beer garden. A nice walk from Spring Lake - either follow the old railway or canal path.
27 locals recommend
The Greyhound
Ashton RoadThe Greyhound - Siddington.
Great pub, nice beer garden. A nice walk from Spring Lake - either follow the old railway or canal path.
The BEST ice cream! The actual factory is on Rodborough Common, or you’ll find a couple of ice cream vans dotted around Minchinhampton Common (Google Tom Longs Post).
33 locals recommend
Winstone's Ice Cream
The BEST ice cream! The actual factory is on Rodborough Common, or you’ll find a couple of ice cream vans dotted around Minchinhampton Common (Google Tom Longs Post).
Beautiful cotswold inn - great food and a great base to explore the stunning Coln valley.
29 locals recommend
The New Inn
Main StreetBeautiful cotswold inn - great food and a great base to explore the stunning Coln valley.
Activities
The best place for wakeboarding, waterskiing and ringos!
Be sure to book in advance as it's really popular.
18 locals recommend
Lakeside Ski & Wake
Station RoadThe best place for wakeboarding, waterskiing and ringos!
Be sure to book in advance as it's really popular.
A great place for open water swimming, paddle boarding and kayaking, really friendly staff too.
On-site coffee, cakes, ice cream and crepes at Ohana Hut.
34 locals recommend
Cotswold Water Park Hire
Spine Road EastA great place for open water swimming, paddle boarding and kayaking, really friendly staff too.
On-site coffee, cakes, ice cream and crepes at Ohana Hut.
Great place for kayaking and SUP. On-site coffee and cakes too.
35 locals recommend
South Cerney Outdoor
12 Spine Rd EGreat place for kayaking and SUP. On-site coffee and cakes too.
Loads going on here!
Swimming, pedalos, Wibit, play parks and walks.
Book in advance, it gets really busy!
88 locals recommend
Cotswold Country Park & Beach
Spratsgate LaneLoads going on here!
Swimming, pedalos, Wibit, play parks and walks.
Book in advance, it gets really busy!
Go-By-Cycle
Water LaneBest place for bike hire to explore the area.
Poulton Hill Vineyard
Wine Tasting...need I say more?!
Historic outdoor swimming pool - worth booking in advance if you’re planning a visit. On the edge of Cirencester Park.
45 locals recommend
Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool
Historic outdoor swimming pool - worth booking in advance if you’re planning a visit. On the edge of Cirencester Park.
Minchinhampton Common - Acres of open space great for dogs, children, flying kites, picnics, rounders, people watching...and cows!
The common is open grazing land so if you’re driving slow down for the cows, its like a free, cotswold safari! ...It is also home to 2 golf courses!
Grab yourself an ice cream from Winstones (Either than factory or the van) and spend an afternoon here!
56 locals recommend
Minchinhampton Common
Minchinhampton Common - Acres of open space great for dogs, children, flying kites, picnics, rounders, people watching...and cows!
The common is open grazing land so if you’re driving slow down for the cows, its like a free, cotswold safari! ...It is also home to 2 golf courses!
Grab yourself an ice cream from Winstones (Either than factory or the van) and spend an afternoon here!
Cotswold Farm Park
Cotswold Lavender
City/town information
This is the nearest village, just a 20 minute walk or 2 minutes in the car.
The village has three pubs (The George, The Royal Oak and The Eliot Arms) a Co-op, fish & chip shop.
Lots of gorgeous walks too.
24 locals recommend
South Cerney
This is the nearest village, just a 20 minute walk or 2 minutes in the car.
The village has three pubs (The George, The Royal Oak and The Eliot Arms) a Co-op, fish & chip shop.
Lots of gorgeous walks too.
An iconic scene to photograph - the long ride from the top of Cirencester park.
55 locals recommend
Cirencester Park
An iconic scene to photograph - the long ride from the top of Cirencester park.
Walks
Cricklade is a pretty little market town with a few pubs, an excellent butchers (Michael Hart) and The Cricklade Club which serves scrummy food.
You can walk here along the old railway or the canal path (we like to take the railway there and the canal path back).
It's a lovely shady walk so perfect on a hot day, or sheltered on a rainy day if you still want to get out.
It's off road so safe for children and dogs to explore.
It takes about 2 hours to walk there.
The bus stop at the entrance of Spring Lake goes to Cricklade so you could always walk there and bus back, or vice versa...but do check the timetable first!
11 locals recommend
Cricklade
Cricklade is a pretty little market town with a few pubs, an excellent butchers (Michael Hart) and The Cricklade Club which serves scrummy food.
You can walk here along the old railway or the canal path (we like to take the railway there and the canal path back).
It's a lovely shady walk so perfect on a hot day, or sheltered on a rainy day if you still want to get out.
It's off road so safe for children and dogs to explore.
It takes about 2 hours to walk there.
The bus stop at the entrance of Spring Lake goes to Cricklade so you could always walk there and bus back, or vice versa...but do check the timetable first!
When you arrive you might like to stretch your legs.
You can walk around Spring Lake in around 25 minutes.
There is a hard path all the way around and the opposite side to the house is well shaded/sheltered.
Turn left out the front door and walk all the way to the end (Tarmac turns to gravel) turn left through the 5 bar gate.
You will need to cross the road at the end and walk along the pavement, then cross back on to Station Road.
Spring Lake
When you arrive you might like to stretch your legs.
You can walk around Spring Lake in around 25 minutes.
There is a hard path all the way around and the opposite side to the house is well shaded/sheltered.
Turn left out the front door and walk all the way to the end (Tarmac turns to gravel) turn left through the 5 bar gate.
You will need to cross the road at the end and walk along the pavement, then cross back on to Station Road.
There are heaps of paths to explore around this beautiful village.
Turn left out the front door and walk to the end of the lake (the tarmac turns to gravel). Turn right through the 5 bar gate and follow the path ahead.
Either bare left through the kissing gate, or straight ahead into the village (this will take you direct to the Co-Op), or cross the road and pick up the old railway line or canal path - both these will take a you to Siddington. The Greyhound is a great pub!
24 locals recommend
South Cerney
There are heaps of paths to explore around this beautiful village.
Turn left out the front door and walk to the end of the lake (the tarmac turns to gravel). Turn right through the 5 bar gate and follow the path ahead.
Either bare left through the kissing gate, or straight ahead into the village (this will take you direct to the Co-Op), or cross the road and pick up the old railway line or canal path - both these will take a you to Siddington. The Greyhound is a great pub!
Selsley Common
Epic views and exploring!
Sightseeing
The Venice of the Cotswolds - take a picnic and paddle in the river.
Visit the model village, Birdland, Motoring and Toy Museum (Home of Brum!), Dragonfly Maze.
If you’re visiting during August Bankholiday, go and watch the local football match in the river - and be prepared to get wet!!
450 locals recommend
Bourton on the Water
The Venice of the Cotswolds - take a picnic and paddle in the river.
Visit the model village, Birdland, Motoring and Toy Museum (Home of Brum!), Dragonfly Maze.
If you’re visiting during August Bankholiday, go and watch the local football match in the river - and be prepared to get wet!!