Visitors to Bewl Water, one of the South East’s largest natural resources, can now take to the water in style following the launch of a 70-seater pleasure cruiser and a ferry service which acts as a water taxi.
The new features form part of a refurbishment plan for the Bewl Water Country Park – just one of the improvements planned at the venue which aim to make the water more accessible.
Every year thousands of visitors flock to the 800-acre site on the borders of Kent and East Sussex near Lamberhurst, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The reservoir was built in the 1970’s when the River Bewl was dammed, and it now supplies water to residents of the Medway Towns, Thanet and Hastings.
It is the largest stretch of open water in the South East, containing more than 30,000 million gallons of water – enough to supply around 200 million people.
The park, which includes an outdoor centre, is a popular venue for watersports including canoeing, sailing and wind-surfing, and is also a favourite spot for anglers. On August 6 it will be the venue for a 1.9km open swim.
The ferry boat, the 42-foot long Bewl Belle, has been refurbished and has just been approved and licenced to operate on the water by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
It is operated by a two-man crew who will take visitors on a 45-minute tour of the reservoir. Trips leave every hour on the hour from the Waterfront jetty, close to the Waterfront restaurant.
Passengers can enjoy a full tour of the lake or they can hop on and off at any of the three purpose-built jetties at Hatheralls Bay, Ferry Point and Seven Pound Creek if they don’t want to tackle the 12-mile path around Bewl Water.
Bewl Water also offers visitors a series of package trips which include morning coffee and cake, lunch, afternoon tea or a leisurely cruise around the lake followed by lunch at the Boat House Bistro. The Bewl Belle is also available for group bookings.
Visitors can also hail the new ferry service from any of the new jetties by calling the Bewl Water Control on 01892 890000.
More information can be obtained from www.bewlwater.co.uk
