Top 9 Lakes around Billingshurst

Several lakes in the area are great for families. Southwater Country Park, featuring Cripplegate Lake, offers a large café and is a popular spot for starting or ending a ride. The park also has three lakes suitable for canoeing, sailing, and fishing. Knepp Estate Lake is part of a rewilding project, providing a beautiful natural setting for family hikes and wildlife spotting. Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens also offers a new play park alongside its historic gardens.

For natural beauty and wildlife, Knepp Estate Lake is a prime example, being central to a pioneering rewilding project where rare species have returned. Burton Mill Pond and Mill, part of a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, is renowned for its wetland habitats, rare plants, diverse birdlife, and an impressive 24 species of dragonfly. Stockwoods Lake, Shillinglee, is also recognized as a wildlife haven.

Yes, the Billingshurst area is well-known for its fishing lakes. Jubilee Fields Lake is easily accessible and stocked with various fish, including Carp and Roach. Musley Farm (ASH Lake) is excellent for match and pleasure fishing, with Carp, Bream, and Perch. Stockwoods Lake, Shillinglee, offers superb fishing for Bream, Roach, and Tench. Weir Wood Reservoir is a large option with a wide range of fish, and Five Oaks Fishery provides two well-stocked lakes for all skill levels. Membership with the Billingshurst Angling Society is often required for fishing at many of these locations.

The most notable historical site is Burton Mill Pond and Mill. The current mill building dates from around 1780, though mills have operated here for centuries. The historic water-powered milling machine has been restored and is open to visitors on specific weekends. The pond itself was created in the late 16th century to power a forge.

You can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. Hiking is popular, with easy routes like the 'Cafe by the Pond – Sumners Pond loop' available. For cycling, there are numerous options, including road cycling routes such as the 'Grinders Lane – Swallows Lane, Dial Post loop' or gravel biking trails like the 'West Grinstead Station – West Grinstead Station Section loop'. You can find more details and routes in the dedicated guides for Easy hikes around Billingshurst, Road Cycling Routes around Billingshurst, and Gravel biking around Billingshurst.

Many of the natural areas and country parks around Billingshurst are dog-friendly, though specific rules may apply, especially regarding leads near wildlife or livestock. The rewilded landscape of Knepp Estate Lake is generally welcoming for walks with dogs, as are many public footpaths around lakes like Burton Mill Pond. Always check local signage for any restrictions.

At Southwater Country Park, there is a large café with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Cripplegate Lake, making it a great spot to relax. While not directly on a lake, the nearby routes guide mentions 'Whispers Cafe and Restaurant' and 'The Milk Churn Coffee Shop' as popular stops on cycling loops from Billingshurst.

Knepp Estate Lake is unique because it's part of a pioneering rewilding project that transformed intensive farmland into a thriving natural ecosystem. Since 2001, the estate has seen the return of rare species like nightingales and peregrine falcons, offering visitors a chance to experience nature's recovery firsthand through hiking and wildlife observation.

Parking is generally available at the more developed lake sites. For instance, Southwater Country Park has a car park, and Five Oaks Fishery also provides on-site parking for visitors. For other, more remote lakes or nature reserves like Burton Mill Pond, parking might be in designated lay-bys or smaller car parks nearby.

The lakes can be enjoyed year-round. Spring and summer are ideal for wildlife spotting, especially dragonflies at Burton Mill Pond and birds at Knepp Estate Lake. Autumn offers beautiful foliage, and winter provides opportunities for peaceful walks, with Weir Wood Reservoir being open year-round for fishing.

While not widely publicized, the smaller, more secluded fishing lakes like Jubilee Fields Lake and Musley Farm (ASH Lake) offer a more tranquil experience away from larger crowds. Stockwoods Lake, Shillinglee, is also described as a stunning estate-type lake and a wildlife haven, providing a peaceful retreat for pleasure anglers and nature lovers.

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens offers extensive facilities within its 240 acres of private gardens and woodlands. Besides exploring the magnificent heritage gardens and lakes, visitors can enjoy a new play park, a garden shop, and a plant centre. It's a Grade I listed estate that has undergone significant restoration.