Pick Your Vicar Water Day Before You Leave the Car Park
Vicar Water Country Park is a countryside park and Local Nature Reserve near Clipstone. Come for lake views, walks, cycling, parkrun, fishing, the children’s play area and a café stop—not swimming pools or water slides.
The easiest first visit starts with three choices: check the seasonal car-park time, choose a route that suits your group, then decide whether the café, play area, parkrun or longer walk is your main reason for coming.
Vicar Water Country Park: The Quick Answer
Vicar Water Country Park is not a commercial waterpark. It is a country park and Local Nature Reserve just south of Clipstone in Nottinghamshire.
The official council information lists a large fishing lake, paths and cycleways, Rumbles Café, visitor-centre toilets, a children’s play area and regular activities including Saturday parkrun.
There is no normal parking charge. Instead, the council asks for a £1 donation at the machine. Vehicle-access times change through the year, so check the month before a late visit.
What Do You Want From Vicar Water?
Do not start by asking how many attractions you can fit in. Pick the reason for your visit first. That makes route length, arrival time and what to bring much easier.
Play + short walk + café
Use the visitor-centre area as your base. Visit the play area, take a manageable walk and return for toilets or refreshments.
Longer countryside route
Nottinghamshire County Council documents a five-mile circular walk. It includes surfaced paths, some steep gradients and three stiles.
Parkrun
Parkrun is listed for Saturday at 9am. Check the official event page before travelling because event updates are separate from general park access.
Pond and bird watching
The park includes lake and wildlife habitat. Slow the visit down and use the paths rather than treating the site as a checklist attraction.
Paths and cycle links
The district council lists cycleways including Sustrans National Route 6 and the Timberland Trail. Bicycle racks are behind the café.
Vicar Pond
The large lake is used for angling. Check current fishing permission and rules before arriving with tackle rather than assuming ordinary park access includes fishing.
Your First Vicar Water Visit in Five Steps
Confirm the applicable vehicle-access hours.
Pick family play, walking, parkrun, cycling, wildlife or fishing.
Match distance and gradients to your group.
Bring water, suitable footwear and weather protection.
Return to the car before the seasonal closing time.
Vicar Water Country Park Parking: What Matters Here
The official council page currently lists 59 parking spaces and five disabled spaces. It also states that there are no height barriers.
There is no standard parking charge. A £1 donation at the machine is encouraged to support the park.
Choose the Walk Before You Arrive
The county’s documented circular route is five miles. However, a full circuit is not the right starting point for every family or mobility level.
| Visitor | Useful approach | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Young family | Keep the visitor centre, play area and a shorter path section as the main plan. | Weather, toilets and children’s walking tolerance. |
| Regular walker | Consider the documented five-mile circular walk. | Three stiles and some steep gradients. |
| Wheelchair or limited mobility | Use the easier surfaced sections that suit your actual access needs. | Gradient and route barriers before committing to a long circuit. |
| Dog walker | Choose a distance that leaves enough time to return before the car park closes. | Current signs and responsible dog-control requirements. |
What You Will Actually See Around the Park
Vicar Pond
The large fishing lake is one of the park’s main landscape features. Treat lake edges as open-water environments and supervise children closely.
Former colliery landscape
The country park was developed on former colliery land. Today, heath, woodland and grassland create a very different landscape from its industrial past.
Hilltop views
The higher parts of the site provide broad countryside views. Reaching them may involve gradients, so factor the return journey into your route.
Golden Hand
The Golden Hand sculpture is a distinctive feature of the park and gives walkers another recognisable point of interest.
Memorial Rose Garden
The council lists the Memorial Rose Garden among the park’s features. It works well as part of a slower visit rather than a long-distance walk.
Wildlife habitat
The lake, grassland, woodland and heath support wildlife watching. Give birds and other animals space rather than approaching for photographs.
Vicar Water With Children
The children’s play area gives families a clear destination without committing to a long countryside route. The council lists a zipwire, climbing frame, swings and roundabouts.
For a short visit
Start near the visitor centre, use the play area and add a short walk. This keeps toilets and the café within easy reach.
For a longer visit
Choose the walking distance before children become tired. A five-mile route with gradients is very different from a play-area visit.
Near the water
Vicar Pond is not a swimming attraction. Keep young children supervised around lake and pond edges.
Food backup
Rumbles Café is a listed facility. However, bring drinking water and do not make an essential meal depend on assumed café hours.
Planning for Vicar Water Country Park Parkrun
The district council lists parkrun every Saturday at 9am. If you are attending the event, use the official parkrun information for registration, event status and participant instructions.
Café, Toilets, Play Area and Practical Facilities
Rumbles Café
The café is listed at the park. Check current service information if refreshments are essential to your visit.
Visitor-centre toilets
Toilets are a listed visitor-centre facility. Nottinghamshire County Council also describes a disabled toilet.
Play area
Facilities include a zipwire, climbing frame, swings and roundabouts.
Bicycle racks
The council lists bicycle racks behind the café. Bring your own suitable lock.
No waterpark lockers
This is not a swimming attraction. Do not arrive expecting changing rooms or commercial waterpark-style lockers.
Weather matters
Paths and gradients can feel very different after poor weather. Choose footwear for countryside conditions, not an indoor attraction.
What to Bring
Walking
- Suitable footwear
- Weatherproof layer
- Drinking water
- Phone or route map
Family
- Child-friendly snacks if needed
- Weather protection
- Spare layer for younger children
- A route that matches their stamina
Before driving home
- Check car-park closing time
- Allow time to return from the route
- Use toilets before departure if needed
- Take litter home or use suitable bins
Accessibility: Plan the Route, Not Just the Destination
The park has five listed disabled parking spaces. Nottinghamshire County Council also identifies a disabled toilet and describes surfaced paths on its documented walk.
However, the same county route information warns of some steep gradients and three stiles. Therefore, do not treat the five-mile circular route as universally step-free.
Vicar Water Country Park Map and Directions
The official district council lists the park in Newark and Sherwood at NG21 9AA, just south of Clipstone. Searching the full park name is safer than searching only for “water park”.
By car
Search “Vicar Water Country Park, Clipstone” and verify the country-park marker before setting off.
By bus
Nottinghamshire County Council lists the walking location as being on bus routes. Use a current journey planner for the exact day rather than relying on an old route number.
By bicycle
The district council lists cycle connections including National Route 6 and the Timberland Trail. Bicycle racks are behind the café.
Common First-Visit Mistakes
Expecting water slides
Vicar Water is a country park and nature reserve. It is not a ticketed swimming or flume attraction.
Looking for admission tickets
Normal park visits do not require a waterpark-style entry ticket.
Starting five miles too late
Seasonal vehicle-access times matter. Leave enough time for the outward walk and return.
Assuming surfaced means flat
The county describes surfaced paths but also warns about steep gradients on the five-mile route.
Ignoring Saturday parkrun
The 9am event can change how busy the car park and paths feel.
Depending entirely on the café
Bring water and check current café information when food or refreshments are essential.
Official Checks Before You Leave Home
Park facilities and parking
Use Newark and Sherwood District Council for current parking, facilities and park information.
Walking route
Use Nottinghamshire County Council for its documented five-mile circular walk, route characteristics and associated map information.
Vicar Water Country Park FAQs
Is Vicar Water Country Park a waterpark?
No. It is a country park and Local Nature Reserve near Clipstone. It has lakes, countryside paths, cycling, fishing, a café and play facilities rather than swimming pools and water slides.
Do you need tickets for Vicar Water Country Park?
No standard admission ticket is listed for an ordinary country-park visit.
Is Vicar Water Country Park parking free?
The district council states that there is no parking charge. Instead, visitors are encouraged to make a £1 donation at the machine.
What time does Vicar Water Country Park car park close?
The listed closing time is 4pm from November to February, 6pm in March, 8pm from April to August and 6pm from September to October.
Is there a café at Vicar Water Country Park?
Yes. Rumbles Café is listed among the park facilities. Check current local information when café availability is essential to your visit.
Are there toilets?
Yes. The district council lists visitor-centre toilets. Nottinghamshire County Council also describes a disabled toilet.
Does Vicar Water have a children’s playground?
Yes. The council lists a play area with a zipwire, climbing frame, swings and roundabouts.
How long is the Vicar Water Country Park walk?
Nottinghamshire County Council documents a five-mile circular walk. It notes surfaced paths, some steep gradients and three stiles.
When is Vicar Water Country Park parkrun?
The district council lists parkrun every Saturday at 9am. Check the official event information before travelling for current event status and participant requirements.
Can you swim at Vicar Water Country Park?
No public swimming attraction is listed. Vicar Pond is a fishing and wildlife lake, so it should not be treated as a swimming facility.
Your Vicar Water Plan Before You Go
Five final checks
- Check the month’s car-park hours.
- Choose your walking distance before arrival.
- Check parkrun timing if visiting on Saturday morning.
- Bring water and suitable outdoor footwear.
- Leave enough time to return before vehicle access closes.
Keep the roles clear
UKWaterPark.org is an independent visitor-planning website. It does not operate Vicar Water Country Park, Rumbles Café, parkrun or the fishing arrangements.
Current operational instructions from the councils, event organisers and onsite signage take priority.