Sywell Country Park
Sywell Country Park
4
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62 within 3 miles
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68 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
303 reviews
Excellent
141
Very good
103
Average
33
Poor
15
Terrible
11
Paul R
Wellingborough, UK717 contributions
Aug 2021
Sywell country park is set around a smallish, irregularly shaped reservoir, in a wooded valley in the heart of the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside.
Car parking is convenient and plentiful. It costs £3.20 for up to 4 hours with increments for longer periods.
There are a number of features around the parking area, including some of the old water board buildings, a playground and a lovely butterfly garden. There is a also a charming small cafe that serves drinks and a good selection of snack food at a reasonable price.
The main feature is the trail around the reservoir, which is 2.5 miles long and mostly level, with a few modest slopes here and there. It is a very pleasant walk, taking in some wooded areas as well as the reservoir itself and some beautiful views across the countryside. The reservoir is home to a variety of birdlife, so take your binoculars.
A really enjoyable visit.
Car parking is convenient and plentiful. It costs £3.20 for up to 4 hours with increments for longer periods.
There are a number of features around the parking area, including some of the old water board buildings, a playground and a lovely butterfly garden. There is a also a charming small cafe that serves drinks and a good selection of snack food at a reasonable price.
The main feature is the trail around the reservoir, which is 2.5 miles long and mostly level, with a few modest slopes here and there. It is a very pleasant walk, taking in some wooded areas as well as the reservoir itself and some beautiful views across the countryside. The reservoir is home to a variety of birdlife, so take your binoculars.
A really enjoyable visit.
Written August 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequentflyer046
Buckinghamshire129 contributions
Nov 2021
This is a lovely round the reservoir walk which can be extended to well over an hour. The path is wide in most places , but there are multiple gates to be opened , so not sure it would be wheel chair friendly.
The car park costs £3.20 for half a day and more for longer , but most people i guess stay less than 2 hours , but there is no smaller charge , which is a rip off in my opinion. Visited 20th Nov 2021
The car park costs £3.20 for half a day and more for longer , but most people i guess stay less than 2 hours , but there is no smaller charge , which is a rip off in my opinion. Visited 20th Nov 2021
Written November 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
reallywrenchit
Maldon, UK268 contributions
Mar 2022
A fantastic place to walk. I saw 20 different bird species, including a pair of red kites. It is very well maintained with a firm footpath all the way round, bird hides and lots of benches. Lots of planting has been done, woods are coppiced and many of the hedges are properly laid. The history of the reservoir, water treatment and pumping station is also interesting.
Written March 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Warren W
4 contributions
May 2022 • Family
This review is in relation to The Pump House Café which is situated within the Sywell Country Park.
I couldn't help but write this review after they charged me £9.80 for two sausage rolls and two cans of Fanta which is absolutely ridiculous!
Their prices are not displayed on the menu boards so you either have to ask at the counter (not practical when there is a queue and you are ordering for other people) or simply order and hope for the best! I regrettably did the latter and was well and truly stung.
After hearing the price and paying I was expecting to have glasses with ice and slices of fresh orange to pour the Fanta into, and two freshly made flavourful gourmet sausage rolls!
What I actually got was two cans and two standard warm sausage rolls (which you could tell had been sitting for a while) in a paper bag...
I hate to think how much they charge for a cup of coffee!
I couldn't help but write this review after they charged me £9.80 for two sausage rolls and two cans of Fanta which is absolutely ridiculous!
Their prices are not displayed on the menu boards so you either have to ask at the counter (not practical when there is a queue and you are ordering for other people) or simply order and hope for the best! I regrettably did the latter and was well and truly stung.
After hearing the price and paying I was expecting to have glasses with ice and slices of fresh orange to pour the Fanta into, and two freshly made flavourful gourmet sausage rolls!
What I actually got was two cans and two standard warm sausage rolls (which you could tell had been sitting for a while) in a paper bag...
I hate to think how much they charge for a cup of coffee!
Written May 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Heather W
Northampton, UK4 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Lovely Park. Avoid Pump House Cafe! Too pricey!! £3.60 for a coffee in a cardboard cup. Sausage rolls are overheated/hard pastry and over priced too. They need to disinfect tables, they always contain crumbs/spilt drinks which encourage wasps. Never seen staff clean them in between customers.
Please review your prices or lose custom!
Please review your prices or lose custom!
Written September 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Roej88
Northamptonshire, UK100 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
Great place for a walk! The full route around took about 2 hours with a 9 year old and 4 year old. The paths are all solid although a little uneven in places. We had some lunch from the cafe which was reasonably priced and had a decent selection of food and drinks.
Only very small negative was the car park wasn't massive so would imagine it gets quite full on a busy day.
Only very small negative was the car park wasn't massive so would imagine it gets quite full on a busy day.
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Darren L
Milton Keynes, UK113 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
This is a lovely, well kept park with a decent walk around a reservoir. It doesn’t seem to get too busy and I’ve not found parking to be a problem. My 6 year old daughter met her friend last there and we all enjoyed the walk and the playground.
We also ate at the Pump House diner which to be honest wasn’t the greatest. Over priced for what it was and my “American bacon and cheese hotdog” looked as if it had been dropped before serving up. The burgers look good from a distance but not so much when you get up close.
My advice, take a picnic.
We also ate at the Pump House diner which to be honest wasn’t the greatest. Over priced for what it was and my “American bacon and cheese hotdog” looked as if it had been dropped before serving up. The burgers look good from a distance but not so much when you get up close.
My advice, take a picnic.
Written July 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Russ U
Northampton, UK14 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Sywell is great. I’ve been visiting for 20 years and the hard work they have put in over the last few years is really starting to pay off. Fantastic for wildlife so if you’re into photography or enjoying birds and other animals you’ll love it. I walk the dog here, it’s perfect. Mostly off lead and hard paths. The cafe isn’t great, but it’s fine for a hot drink. Perfect picnic areas and a kids play area. It’s definitely better than the other local parks for a walk.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
VivendaLuiza
369 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
Regularly go around it weekly. Now has a path so you wont get muddy either. Local dog walker and jogging hot spot. Weekends do see like an iron,an event, swim, bike and run round it so does get busy and people dashing about everywhere, so advise to be early to miss them!
15 or more years ago it was a great place and a natural adventure environment to take your children round and get a little muddy on the route round and it was hardly know either and few people went, but now with its development it attracts loads of people, especially from afar.
15 or more years ago it was a great place and a natural adventure environment to take your children round and get a little muddy on the route round and it was hardly know either and few people went, but now with its development it attracts loads of people, especially from afar.
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
hotdog65
Northampton, UK10 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We used to enjoy walking round sywell country park but on this visit we couldn’t help but notice the changes.
They seem to be installing lots more gates, concreted bits and styles which really break up the walk. The place seemed to function ok before.
The car Park was heaving and parking isn’t cheap. Getting too popular and too made over .
They seem to be installing lots more gates, concreted bits and styles which really break up the walk. The place seemed to function ok before.
The car Park was heaving and parking isn’t cheap. Getting too popular and too made over .
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Denise Axtell
1 contribution
How far is it to walk sywell reservoir
rainbownorthampton
Northampton, UK271 contributions
Its approximately 2.5 miles
Sywell Country Park (Ecton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Sywell Country Park
- Hotels near Sywell Country Park:
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- (3.37 mi) The Poplars Hotel
- (1.01 mi) Ecton House
- (0.96 mi) The World's End
- (5.73 mi) Premier Inn Northampton Town Centre hotel
- Restaurants near Sywell Country Park:
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- (2.67 mi) The Shed Cafe
- (2.79 mi) The Royal Oak
- (5.83 mi) Turtle Bay - Northampton
- (4.72 mi) Khandan Indian Restaurant