Stanwick Lakes

Stanwick Lakes is situated between Thrapston and Wellingborough on the A45.  It is a marvelous place of peace, serenity and beauty.  Stanwick Lakes are rather new, having been a site for quarrying minerals between 1985 and 2004.  Prior to the quarrying, the Stanwick site has a rich tapestry of history from farming, a sewage farm, a tannery, railway stations and sidings, and even further back - thanks to archaelogical excavations - the area also once had a Roman settlement too.

Stanwick Lakes are now a really important site within the Nene Valley for breeding, feeding, wintering and migrating birds including golden plover, pintail, teal, oyster catchers, lapwing and great crested grebe, not to mention numerous dragonflies and other delightful mini-beasties.

You can hire a boat or canoe in the summer months, or hire a bicycle and make use of the full 7 miles circular route around the lakes (don't miss the hide) and there is also a linear route of 4 miles between Irthlingborough and Thrapston (the old railway line) which gives the local people a good excuse to leave the car at home and go green - horse riders need a permit, and all paths are flat and well maintained and wheelchair friendly.

There is a cafe and shop, visitor center with lots of information about the local area and (thankfully! as not many places do) toilets, and also there are picnic tables dotted around, benches along the way to stop and admire the view and a play/adventure area for the kids.

All in all a great place for a great day out. You just need to remember you'll need 3 one pound coins to lift the barrier to leave, or pay £25 per annum.