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Coate Water Country Park

196 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome196 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦75+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mute Swan and Great Tit
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

10 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Mute Swan, Great Tit, Jackdaw +72 more · last seen 2026; Lowland fens — specialist fen birds and passage waders

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Mute Swan, Great Tit, Jackdaw +72 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Free

Insect spotting

Lowland fens — fen dragonflies and rare invertebrates; Insects — Common Blue Damselfly, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Migrant Hawker +8 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Cycling

Named cycling route nearby: Mercian Way

Varies

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

7 signed routes nearby · 37 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The RidgewayWalking route140 km
Named routeRef RWLength 140 kmNational walking route
The Roman WayWalking route274.5 km
Named routeLength 274.5 kmRegional walking route
Sarsen WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Millennium TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Ridgeway Circular RouteWalking route

Aldbourne Circular Route

Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Rainscombe Roadpublic footpath · 49 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 49 mSurface asphaltPath type: residential
Fairwoodpublic footpath · 4 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 4 mSurface asphaltPath type: residential
🚴

Cycling

95 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Mercian WayCycling route
Named routeRef 45National Cycle Network
Route 482Cycling route
Named routeRef 482National Cycle Network
Route (45)Cycling route

National Cycle Network link route between NCN 45 and Swindon station

Named routeRef (45)Local cycle route
Eastern FlyerCycling route
Named routeRef EFLocal cycle route
(45)Cycling route

National Cycle Network link route between NCN 45 and Swindon station

Named routeRef (45)Local cycle route
Swindon to Ridgeway LinkCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
King Alfred's WayMountain bike route

King Alfreds Way is 350km (220 miles) off road route designed to be ridden clockwise. It starts & ends in Winchester. It is suitable for gravel or cross-country bikes.

Named routeRegional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

1 public path nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Trees at Coate Water Country Park, Swindon

Trees at Coate Water Country Park, Swindon

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