Is Clophill Lakes a country park? 

No, it’s a nature reserve. It is managed to conserve and enhance habitats for biodiversity, with limited public access to protect the mosaic of habitats.

How long will it take me to walk the reserve?

Why are dogs on leads?

We are insisting you keep your dog on a lead to protect the nature reserve. Dogs off leads can cause disturbance.

Dogs in ponds can also cause problems for invertebrate life with tick treatments on their coats, with the pesticides killing off invertebrates. More information is available from the Freshwater Habitats Trust on our Dog Walking page.

Why is fishing not allowed?

Fishing is not permitted as an environmental evaluation was completed when we took over the site and that advised that it was not appropriate at the location at this time.

The ponds are part of the County Wildlife Site and are managed for their invertebrate interest. Stocking with fish would cause an imbalance to that ecosystem, harming the invertebrate life, such as damsel and dragonflies.

Why does the café not accept cash?

We are a cashless site for security purposes, so that the café does not have cash on site making it more vulnerable.

Why can’t I swim in the lake?

As a former quarry site, we don’t know exactly how deep the lakes are. They are also likely to contain pieces of quarry equipment, making them unsafe for people to swim in. As they are likely very deep, they are exceptionally cold.

Why can’t I sail or paddleboard?

We are managing the Lakes as a nature reserve, so recreational activities that disturb the water habitats or could disturb water birds, such as herons or sand martins, are not possible.

Can I cycle around the site?

We welcome cyclists onto the site, access via the main entrance. However, there will not be cycling around the lakes for the safety of all users. We have a bike rack opposite the visitor centre building where cyclists can secure their bikes before exploring on foot. 

Can I ride my Horse there? 

Sorry, there are no bridleways through the nature reserve so horses cannot enter.

Can I park using my Greensand Parking Pass for Rushmere?

Sorry no, not a present. The ANPR system installed at Clophill does not yet accommodate a subscription service. We are working with our supplier on this and hope to be able to offer a similar service at Clophill as we do at Rushmere for local frequent visitors sometime in the future.

Is Clophill suitable for disabled access?

Yes it is - our trails are largely grass and gravel, all flat, and should be fine for wheelchair and mobility scooter access during dry weather. We have some disabled parking spaces for Blue Badge holders nearest the cafe building (parking charges still apply) and also a disabled toilet.

Can I bring a school or group to visit?

Yes, we welcome group visits, but you will need to book. This helps everyone get the best experience of the reserve and helps us to manage the site sustainably.

For school and educational groups please contact: [email protected]

Other groups please email us via this link: [email protected]

For more detailed information on Clophill Lakes see About Clophill Lakes