Explore the Cotswold Lakes on Foot or by Bike

Step outside Nyhavn Lakeside Cottage and you’re in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park – a unique landscape of more than 180 lakes spread across 42 square miles. It feels wonderfully peaceful and rural, yet there is always something to see, somewhere new to wander, and a different stretch of water to discover each day.

A Lakeside Landscape to Explore

The Cotswold Lakes isn’t a single lake, but a whole network of former gravel pits that have been carefully transformed into wildlife-rich lakes, reedbeds and meadows. Around them you’ll find an ever-growing web of footpaths, cycle routes and quiet lanes linking nature reserves, picnic spots and watersports hubs.

From Isis & Windrush Lakes you can simply step through the gates and join this landscape on foot. There’s no need to get in the car for a gentle lakeside stroll or an early-morning leg stretch with the dog. Paths weave between the neighbouring lakes, offering easy, mostly level walking that’s ideal for families, buggies and little legs.

Walks from the Cottage

One of the real pleasures of staying here is how quickly you can “just pop out for a walk”. Follow the paths around Isis Lake for a short loop before breakfast, or head further afield towards the wider Water Park. You’ll find stretches where the only sounds are birdsong, the splash of coots and the breeze in the reeds.

Waymarked routes in the wider area range from short family-friendly circuits to longer rambles linking several lakes together. Many guests like to wander out with no fixed plan, following the water’s edge and discovering new viewpoints and picnic spots as they go.

Cycling the Water Park

The largely flat terrain makes this a lovely place to explore by bike. Quiet lanes and off-road paths connect different parts of the Water Park, so you can create your own circular rides taking in village pubs, café stops and waterside viewpoints along the way.

Whether you’re pottering with the children or heading out for a longer spin, you’ll find plenty of options that start right from the development. Bring your own bikes and enjoy traffic-light riding, or combine a walk and a ride over the course of your stay.

Wildlife Watching on your Doorstep

The lakes are a magnet for birdlife throughout the year. From your private decking at Nyhavn you can watch ducks, swans and grebes out on Isis Lake, and it’s easy to turn a simple stroll into a relaxed birdwatching outing. Look out for herons poised on the margins, terns diving for fish, and in the colder months, flocks of wintering waterfowl.

The mosaic of water, reedbeds and grassland also attracts dragonflies, butterflies and a host of other wildlife. Benches and informal viewing spots dotted around the lakes invite you to pause, sit quietly and see what appears.

Space to Slow Down

What makes this area special is the balance it offers. If you want activity, there are watersports centres, fishing and family attractions within easy reach. But if you simply want to unwind, you can leave the car keys on the side, step out from Isis & Windrush Lakes and enjoy miles of waterside paths, big skies and open views – all on your doorstep.