Watermead Country Park (North)

Watermead is a partnership of Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Charnwood Borough Council. Watermead Country Park (South) is managed by Leicester City Council and forms part of the Riverside Park which runs through the centre of the Leicester City.

If you have visited one of Leicestershire County Council's country parks recently, we'd love to hear your views to help us plan future improvements. Please complete our Country Parks Survey.

Location

Access off Wanlip Road, near Syston, Leicestershire, LE7 1PD - 5 miles north of Leicester city centre. Location Map . To see the facilities and position of the car parks see the Map of the Country Park

Events

Country Parks events are listed in the County Council Events Guide. Look in the List of Exhibitions & Events section for the diary by date giving full details.

Description

On the edge of Leicester, just five miles from the City Centre, Watermead Country Park is a 140-hectare green oasis. It is a haven for wildlife and a peaceful stretch of countryside, easily accessible for many people. Most of the paths are surfaced making it an ideal site to visit for wheelchair and buggy users. The Park is developing one of the largest reedbed areas in the Midlands and five birdhides, including a 2-storey hide, provide great viewing spots for visitors.

The Country Park is nearly two miles long and as its name suggests it is a wetland area with over 12 lakes and smaller ponds. It is an ideal spot for walking, cycling, picnics, birdwatching, fishing or more active watersports. The largest area of water is King Lear's Lake, which is an excellent day ticket coarse fishing venue.

Running through the Park are the River Soar and Grand Union Canal which provide an essential corridor for wildlife as well as a route for pleasure boating and walking.

The Beautiful Demoiselle Fly is a rare visitor to Beacon Hill

Admission

Free; £1.50 parking charge

Car Park Season Ticket Information

Opening Times

Month	Time
January	Daily 7am-4pm
February	Daily 7am-5pm
March	Daily 7am-6pm
April	Daily 7am-7pm
May-August	Daily 7am-8pm
September	Daily 7am-7pm
October	Daily 7am-6pm	Until the clocks go back
October	Daily 7am-5pm	After the clocks go back
November	Daily 7am-5pm
December	Daily 7am-4pm

Activities

Picnic Area

Walks

Cycle Trail

Fishing

Information Area

Permanent Orienteering Course

Access

There are stone roads and pathways. The area around John Merricks Lake is adapted for people with disabilities.

Facilities

Toilets

Disabled Toilets

Parkiing

Disabled Parking

The Country Park has two main car parks. Access to the northern one is from the A46 Leicester Western Bypass and the Wanlip Road near Syston (LE7 1PD).
Toilets with facilities for disabled people and baby changing are available at this car park.
The second serves the southern end of the Country Park and can be reached by the A607 and Alderton Close in Thurmaston, just north of the ring road.
Follow the brown signs.

Contact Details

The Ranger, Watermead Country Park Office, Fillingate, Wanlip, Leicestershire LE7 4PF
Tel: 0116 305 5434
Email: watermead@leics.gov.uk
Emergency/Out-of-Hours Tel: 07850 276226