Chasewater in summer, winter, whenever!
View Map
Recommendation added: 09/11/2007 14:16
By: mamba17 (YSUK rating +87)mamba17 has been thanked 2 times for this contribution
"I always want Sundays to be relaxing, day where nothing really needs to be done, either by watching a few nice films or pottering around in the garden. Chasewater Country Park is just one of the activities that can be ideal for those lazy Sundays.
Chasewater is quite close to Brownhills in the West Midlands, it is signposted from the A5 near Cannock travelling east towards the A38. Being only a short ride from where I do feel guilty for not going more often as it is truly a place that should be fully appreciated.
About
Well Chasewater is primarily a lake that has all the fun of water skiing, sailing and wind-surfing. However it is a wonderful place just to go for a walk with the dogs and view the lake, the greenery and the wildlife. Strangely enough there is even a steam railway, so it's an exciting day out for those train enthusiasts.
The Chase has 360 hectares of water and open area for you to walk, cycle or even sit down for a picnic. For the hidden bird watcher it can also be a real treat as Chasewater is home to many birds and animals that go on about their business even with a barking dog coming past them (own experience!). Robins, ducks, swans and sparrows are just a few of the wide variety of wildlife you can catch a glimpse of at Chasewater.
Chasewater's walking and cycling paths also link into paths for many long distance footpaths in the area including Beacon Way. These walks are perfect for a Sunday afternoon where a bit of fresh air will do you the world of good. Dogs are very welcome and will also love the open space and beauty of Chasewater. Chasewater is absolutely stunning in the summer, but as you can imagine in the winter it is not the best of places to go walking as it is so close to the water the wind can get extremely chilly and you really will feel the bite of winter.
The lake is probably what Chasewater is renowned for as it caters for many people. Sailing, windsurfing and fishing are all allowed for a small price and teaching is always available. Even sub aqua diving can be booked if it is so in advance. Many of these activities are pretty rare in the Midlands so this is an extremely good opportunity for anyone who is interested in these sports but has nowhere else to go.
Forest of Mercia Innovation Centre
This centre I think is the perfect place as it caters for all ages. For the kids they can attend craft workshops that they hold throughout the year which is always fun. For adults it holds conferences and exhibitions which can be a real insight into how the wildlife of Chasewater are cared for and how the centre runs.
Opening times
For the lakeside at Chasewater the opening times are as follows:
Mon-Fri 5pm-9pm
Sat-Sun 9am-9pm
Overall this place is the perfect outing for a family who wants to have a relaxing time without too much driving or effort. Entrance is free and with plenty of parking available, you would be hard pushed to find a reason not to go. The only things you would have to pay for are hiring out dinghies or lessons and even these aren't much. Renting out is by the hour and is normally in the vicinity of around £15. This is the price it was the last time I visited which was four months ago so it might have changed a little now, but probably not by much. On a summer's day this place is perfect for sitting down and having a picnic or a long bike ride and in the winter it is always nice to go for a crisp walk."
Was this recommendation useful?
|
;)
