Bewl Water Special Feature
Wednesday June 27 | 2018
Welcome to summer at Bewl Water
thekn w.guide
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When it comes to making the most of the warmer weather, there’s no better place to be than amidst the glorious landscapes that the Garden of England has to offer. In this exclusive supplement, we shine a spotlight on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and uncover how Bewl Water can be the ideal way to make the most of the summer season
Supercars, sailing & camping THE summer is upon us, and we at Bewl are celebrating in style with a range of fun activities for all the family. We are very excited to be welcoming VVS UK and their followers to the first Supercar Saturday at Bewl. We’re going to be hosting Lamborghinis, Ferraris and other supercar
brands in a static show on June 30. There will be a BBQ, ice creams, bouncy castles and a chance for your little ones to drive our unique ranger cars. Alongside our pedalos and rowing boats, cycle hire, boat trips and mini golf, it is set to be an actionpacked way to truly welcome summer.
Sailing has been gaining momentum at Bewl Water this year with an influx of dinghy and windsurfing memberships to bolster the ranks. This was certainly aided by May’s Push the Boat Out event, where over 170 budding new sailors came to Bewl to have a go at the helm under the supervision of our experienced members. The reservoir is a picture at weekends with various fleets and families enjoying both casual sailing and racing. A big step in this hugely positive direction has been the introduction of the Optimist fleet – sailing under The Bewl Barbarians, a self-elected name. Within their fleet, they have some very promising young sailors with three national squad places being achieved by Bewl resident sailors. To arrange a taster and sign up for regular youth sailing sessions, get in touch with them at www.bbsc.org.uk Bewl sailors have organised safety boats on the lake every Wednesday evening from 6pm – half an hour before sunset – and Saturday afternoons between 12noon and 4pm, right up until August 25. This is the perfect opportunity to hone those skills, get advice, and meet some of our wonderful sailing community. One of the most exciting developments is the introduction of the Bewl Water campsite. Over 28 days this summer you can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the reservoir once everyone has gone home in our beautiful site just a short walk from the lake. We have a fire pit and superb facilities available for the duration, providing you and your family with the perfect base to explore Bewl and beyond. While camping, you can enjoy a sumptuous evening meal overlooking the reservoir from the fabulous Boat House Bistro, open on Saturday evenings throughout the summer. Phil Daley, Activities Manager
Rural beauty & rainbow trout WITH the lake 100 per cent full, Bewl looks stunning to visitors on the Round Water Route that weaves through shady woodland with its rich green canopy and sunny meadowland, with wild flowers and butterflies in abundance. The bridleway has received its first cut back to control the nettles, brambles and blackthorn that hamper access, and numerous overhanging branches have been cleared. The coppicing of the wood behind the Boat House is now complete and is well worth a look. This six-year project has produced a healthy revitalised wood, and the differing heights of cover give vastly improved biodiversity. The rapid refill of the lake in the early months took its toll on water clarity and fishing has been varied, with both good and difficult days. Things have now settled, however, and – with the aerator line running – the water has cleared giving good sport with many fish fry-feeding close to the surface. Fish stocking continues, and to date over 26,000 pristine rainbow trout of 2 to 3 ½ lbs have been introduced this season, with 20,000 more to come. Howard McKenzie, Estates Manager