Bestwood Country Park - Mill Lakes
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Nottingham
What it’s like
A free walk around a quiet lake with birdwatching, a Saturday morning café and no fishing or swimming to worry about.
A loop around Mill Lakes is the whole plan here: flat paths, water on one side, and enough birdlife to make it worth bringing the binoculars if you've got them. The site mentions waders and raptors among the residents and migrants, so it's not just ducks. There's no fishing or swimming allowed, which the park says is to keep the wildlife undisturbed, and it does mean you can stop worrying about anyone getting the urge to paddle in.
It costs nothing to walk round, which makes it an easy one to slot into a weekend without any planning. Dogs are welcome as long as they stay out of the water and on a lead, and there's a litter bin at the northern entrance for exactly that reason.
The catch is parking. There isn't any at the lakes themselves.
If you time it for a Saturday morning, Dynamo House Café is open from 9:30 to 12:30 with hot and cold drinks at £1 each and home-made cakes for about £1.50. On the first Saturday of the month in winter they do soup and rolls too, which is a nice enough reason to pick that particular Saturday over another. The Winding Engine House also runs tours from 10am to noon on Saturdays if you want to make a morning of it.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- No parking at Mill Lakes. Car park at Bestwood Village for the Country Park within easy walking distance
- Food
- Dynamo House Café open Saturday mornings with hot and cold drinks (£1 each) and home-made cakes/biscuits (usually £1.50 each)
- Dogs
- Allowed but must be kept out of the water and under control at all times
- No parking right at the lakes, park at Bestwood Village and walk in
- Café only runs Saturday mornings, not every day
- Winding Engine House tours also run 10am to noon Saturdays if you fancy pairing the two
- Bring binoculars if birdwatching is the aim, waders and raptors get a mention
Plan your visit
Is it free to visit?
Yes, walking round Mill Lakes doesn't cost anything.
Can we swim or fish there?
Both are banned to protect the wildlife from disturbance.
Is there parking at the lakes?
Not at the lakes themselves. You park at Bestwood Village car park for the Country Park and walk in, which is an easy distance.
Is there anywhere to get food?
Dynamo House Café is open Saturday mornings, 9:30 to 12:30, with drinks at £1 and cakes around £1.50. On the first Saturday of winter months there's soup and rolls too.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome but need to stay out of the water and under control, with a litter bin at the northern entrance.
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