We visited Stanwick lakes on the weekend to start our keep fit program, well to get out and about anyway. We took our bikes after getting the tyres pumped up and the wheels oiled after winter. Stanwick lakes is a lovely place to ride for all age ranges due to its flat terrain.

It also has a great kids play area that is made of wood so blends into the natural surrounding area and has a zip wire and also a water play area for the summer months. There is also a bbq area close to the visitor Center. we cycled around the many man-made lakes and found a lovely tea room called Woodford mill near the willy watt marina. lovely little place near the canal and dry docks for the canal boats. we cycled back  approx 2 miles through stanwick lakes back to the visitors center.

I think what we found so interesting was how well made the reserve was it centered on bird hides, horse riding routes and even fishing lakes. There is bike hire if you don’t have your own bike and also many picnic areas. The visitors center has a nice gift shop, a soft play area if the weather is bad and also a great deck overlooking the water should you want to have a cool drink to unwind. It’s amazing how you can turn a once working quarry and transform it into a countryside attraction and nature reserve as they have done with stanwick lakes. It’s a great place to go on a budget as the car park is only £2 pounds at the time of writing this.