Welcome
Draycote Water is an attractive and relaxing haven for walkers, cyclists, wildlife enthusiasts and families alike. It provides an interesting and varied day out for all. It combines great watery views with a relatively flat tarmac perimeter track, a children’s playground, restaurant, sailing club, trout fishery and space for family fun and picnics.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Visitor Hub public toiletsFirst floor disabled toiletCountry park toiletsWaterside RestaurantGift shopFishery LodgeCountry Park and Children's Play AreaHearing
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
The footpath from the bus stop to the main gate is rough tarmac and crosses a residential side road with no drop kerb. The pedestrian gate to gain access is 1m wide you can then use the tarmac path which is approx 1.2m wide all the way up to the visitor hub.
Travel by taxi
Parking
There are 16 disabled parking bays across two locations between 30m and 50m from the Visitor Hub and Reservoir walk. Access is then up a slope. Drop off right outside the Visitor Hub can be arranged via the Rangers or restaurant staff, with the car then needing to be moved to the car park.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
Public toilets including disabled facilities are on the ground floor accessed via side hung doors. Access to restaurant and shop is via a sliding door to the Visitor Hub concourse, and then by stairs or lift to the first floor. Alternative level access to the restaurant avoiding stairs or lift can be arranged from the rear of the building by contacting the restaurant staff.
Getting around inside
First floor lift
Public toilet
Visitor Hub public toilets
Public toilet
First floor disabled toilet
The first floor disabled toilet is available only to disabled or reduced mobility customers of the restaurant (as the main public toilets are downstairs via the lift on the ground floor). There are also baby changing facilities available for customers here.
Public toilet
Country park toilets
There is an additional toilet block at the bottom of the Country Park, away from the Visitor Hub, back towards the main site entrance. Within both the Ladies and Gents there is a separate cubicle providing space and privacy. Wheelchair access to this toilet block is on a tarmacked surface.
Shop
Gift shop
Takeaway drinks and ice creams, souvenirs and gifts, hats and toys.
Shop
Fishery Lodge
The Fishery Lodge is where flyfishers obtain their day permits and boat hire from prior to fishing. It is also a well-stocked fishing shop catering for fly fishing. Fly fishing lessons and guiding can also be organised here. The fishery also operates a 'WHEELY' boat for wheelchair anglers and can offer some fishing from the level concrete boat pontoon by arrangement.
Place to eat and drink
Waterside Restaurant
Advice about allergens should be sought from restaurant staff. Vegetarian dishes are indicated on the printed menus.
There is a takeaway counter in the first floor shop for drinks and ice creams.
There is a balcony available to restaurant customers who wish to sit outside. Doorways to the balcony are 980mm with a low sloped threshold strip. The balcony surface is ridged wooden decking.
Getting around outside
Reservoir Perimeter Walk
There is a tarmac track going right around the perimeter of the reservoir. It is a shared user path between pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and hand-bikers. There are a small number of road vehicles that use part of the track along the north shore. The full perimeter is 5 miles with the north shore having some slopes. The path on the dams, of which there are six, is level tarmac and is flat - this accounts for around two-thirds of the route. Many people walk along the first two dams, which is about a mile, and then return the same way. Road vehicles do not use the track on top of the dams (except in rare circumstances).
Blue-badge holders are allowed to drive the first mile to a small car park with views over the water. To do this they should visit the Rangers Office to get a security code to access the vehicle control barrier. Vehicles will need either a valid pay-and-display ticket from the main car park machines or an annual parking permit to access here.
Dogs are not permitted around the Reservoir Walk except working guide dogs or guide dogs in training.
Toft bird hide
Picnic Area
Country Park and Children's Play Area
The Country Park is a 24 acre greenspace incorporating the Children's Play Area. In the summer months there is also an ice cream kiosk open here. There are alternative hardstanding car parks immediately adjacent to the Play Area and at various points around the Park although there are no specific disabled bays in this area. To access the Country Park parking take the left hand fork in the road after entering the site.
Access from the main tarmac car park is via zebra crossing. Access to and from the Visitor Hub is either via a sloped tarmac footpath with drop kerbs or via a gravel track.
The Play Area has a good range of swings, climbing frames and other equipment over rubberised flooring or grass mats.
Customer care support
Emergency evacuation procedures
Staff at the Visitor Hub will assist disabled visitors in the event of an evacuation.
Customer care support
The fly fishery operate a Wheely boat for wheelchair users to fish from. For further information please call 01788 812018.
Draycote Water Sailing Club is a RYA Sailability Centre. For further information please call 01788 811153 or contact via www.draycotewater.co.uk