REVIEW: LAKE 32 - 'An open water adventure set in the heart of the Cotswolds'

When the hot weather arrives, we all marvel at the thought of taking a nice cool dip in the great outdoors, but at Cirencester’s Lake 32 we were able to do exactly that as we explored their brilliant range of watersports activities.

Lake 32 is set on a stunning freshwater lake located in the heart of the beautiful Cotswold Water Park and boasts a range of activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and open water swimming.

The facility is membership only with a year’s lake membership costing £150 a year and U18s just £90. That includes year-round use of all their facilities and equipment, making it exceptionally good value for money if you’re planning to visit numerous times.

Watersports has become an increasingly booming market for Brits, with paddle boarding and open-water swimming one of the summer’s most popular activities as thousands flock to learn a new skill and have fun out on the water.

So why should you consider choosing Lake 32 as your next sunny day destination? After our day out we can put it quite simply. Because they are amazing.

Their modern and open venue was packed with regulars when we arrived but that didn’t stop us being given all the attention that we needed as newcomers to the world of watersports. 

We decided to try our skills at paddleboarding first and were given a demonstration before being handed our equipment and given licence to hit the water and discover the beautiful surroundings of Lake 32.

The crystal-clear water was so inviting and despite feeling quite confident in my abilities, I found myself falling off the board and into the water. But this was ok because the boards were easy to get back on and the paddles stay afloat meaning you don’t have to scramble to get your equipment back before it sinks to the bottom of the lake.

Paddleboarding is certainly harder than it lucks but even though we were complete beginners I soon found ourselves standing up and paddling with ease, even if the odd fall into the water hampered any positive progress.

Your membership means you can spend all day out on the lake if you really want to, but after taking a tour of the beautiful natural environment, we decided to head back in to get ready for an open-water swimming session.

Firstly we should say that open water swimming is challenging and shouldn’t be attempted unless you are a strong swimmer. 

The team at Lake 32 have designed courses consisting of 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 750m, and if you really ant to push yourself, 1500m routes around the lake as well.

Tow floats are mandatory for all swimmers, and you can either bring your own along with you or use the floats provided by the team at the lake. You can choose to swim in shorts or a costume, however you may want to consider wearing a wetsuit especially during the colder months.

After taking a moment to acclimatise to the water, I dived in and off I went on a swimming trip around the glistening lake. I had no problem working my way around the inflatable bollards that lay out the course perimeters and thoroughly enjoyed the unusualness of swimming in unfamiliar surroundings.

If you want to get into open water swimming then you can book an induction session with one of Lake 32s experienced pros who know everything there is about lake swimming.

In conclusion, a day out at Lake 32 far exceeded our expectations, with the combination of a great setting, first-class customer service, and top grade equipment making our watersports adventure one of the highlights of summer.

If you want to find out more about Lake 32 then CLICK HERE.