Bolam Lake Country Park - General Visitor Information
Bolam Lake is situated in the heart of the beautiful Northumberland countryside surrounded by historic landscape and dramatic views. It has lakeside, woodland and open grassed areas for all to enjoy. The lakeside walk is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
The Visitor Centre is a good starting point for your visit and is open every weekend and school holidays from 10.30 am. There is a shop which sells gifts, books and distributes leaflets. There is also a cafe serving sandwiches, soup and cakes. There are 3 car parks for which there is a charge of £1.30 for up to 2 hours and £2.60 all day. An annual permit is available.
The lake offers something for everyone. You can feed the swans from the jetties, sail a canoe or fish (please see information on watersports). Bring a picnic or walk through the peaceful, mature woodland where you may glimpse red squirrels.
There is an excellent path network which makes the area popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Try a walk to Shaftoe Crags or the beautiful Bolam church by picking up a leaflet on sale at the Visitor Centre. There is also a site leaflet which will help you find you way round.
Watersport Information
The lake is available to be used for canoeing and fishing. These activities are both by permit. The canoeing and fishing season runs from June 16th to March 14th each year.
For canoeing the permits are £2.00 per canoe per day or £10.00 per season. The day permits are available from car park machines, it does not include the cost of parking. Sailing boats, windsurfers, dinghies, motorised crafts and inflables are not allowed. Contact staff for further information.
The lake is a coarse fishery and permits are available from Belsay Post Office (ring 01661 881207 for opening times). Day permits are £6 and season permits are £24, concessions are half price. Children need concessionary permits. Fishing is from the bank only during daylight hours. No overnight camping is allowed.
Bolam Lake runs activities each year. To see the latest information click on the event diary tab at the top of this page. The park also has a Friends of Bolam Lake Group and you can find out more by following this link
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