Pick Your Lake 86 Adventure Before You Head to the Water
Lake 86 is a watersports lake, not a flume-style waterpark. Come here for paddling, equipment hire, open-water swimming and own-craft sessions — and choose the correct booking category before travelling.
What Is Lake 86 Cotswold Water Park?
Lake 86 is Cotswold Water Park Hire’s outdoor watersports base in South Cerney. It is not a conventional waterpark with flumes, a wave pool or a lazy river.
The official booking system separates activities such as equipment hire, PAYG open-water swimming, SWIMPODIUM timed swims and own-craft launch. That distinction matters because each visit type can have different booking, equipment and participation requirements.
Best next step: decide what you actually want to do, then check that activity’s live session before travelling.
Lake 86 vs “Cotswold Water Park”: Avoid the Wrong Venue
The wider Cotswold Lakes area contains many separate lakes, activity businesses, accommodation providers and visitor destinations. Searching only for “Cotswold Water Park” can therefore send you somewhere that does not match your booking.
Lake 86
Use for: CWP Hire, paddling, equipment hire, swimming and own-craft launch.
Postcode: GL7 5TL.
Country Park & Beach
A separate family beach and activity destination. Do not assume a Lake 86 booking gives access to this venue.
De Vere / Lake 6
A lakeside hotel and spa base. It is not Lake 86 and hotel accommodation should not be confused with a Lake 86 activity booking.
Which Lake 86 Activity Should You Book?
Start with your group’s real goal. A visitor who needs supplied equipment has a different booking path from an experienced swimmer or someone bringing their own board.
Hire
Choose the hire category when you want to use equipment supplied through Lake 86.
Best for: visitors who do not have their own craft.
PAYG Swim
Use the dedicated swimming booking rather than assuming general lake access includes swimming.
Check: current swim rules before paying.
SWIMPODIUM
The booking system lists SWIMPODIUM Timed Swim separately from normal PAYG swimming.
Check: exact session format and availability.
Craft Launch
Bringing your own permitted craft? Use the craft-launch booking route instead of equipment hire.
Check: craft and safety-equipment requirements.
Lake 86 Activity Decision Board
Lake 86 Opening Times 2026
The operator publishes seasonal opening patterns rather than one year-round time. Your booked session and the live official calendar should control your visit.
Shorter spring schedule
Mon, Fri, Sun: 9am–3pm
Tue, Sat: 7am–3pm
Thu: 7:30am–3pm
Wednesday: closed on the published April pattern.
Longer evenings begin
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun: 9am–5pm
Tuesday: 7am–8pm
Thursday: 7:30am–8pm
Saturday: 7am–5pm
Main summer pattern
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun: 9am–6:30pm
Tuesday: 7am–8pm
Thursday: 7:30am–8pm
Saturday: 7am–6:30pm
Until last Sunday
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun: 9am–5pm
Tuesday: 7am–6pm
Thursday: 9am–6pm
Saturday: 7am–5pm
How to Book Lake 86 Without Choosing the Wrong Session
Choose the activity before choosing the time
Start with Hire, PAYG Swimming, timed swimming or Craft Launch. This prevents you from paying for the wrong type of access.
Check everyone in your group
Consider ages, confidence, swimming ability and whether anyone is bringing their own equipment. If a participant’s eligibility is unclear, ask Lake 86 before paying.
Open the live booking calendar
Select the correct activity and inspect the available date and session. Availability can change, so do not rely on an old screenshot or third-party price page.
Read the activity conditions
Check risk acknowledgement, equipment requirements, weather implications, cancellation conditions and anything specific to your selected activity.
Save the confirmation and exact destination
Keep the booking details accessible on your phone and save “CWP Hire Lake 86” in maps before leaving home.
What Happens When You Arrive for Lake 86 Hire?
The operator’s hire guidance gives a much clearer picture than simply saying “arrive and paddle.” Hire customers check in at the designated desk before getting onto the lake.
Check in
Find the check-in desk and make sure you are there in time for your booked slot.
Get fitted
Staff fit hire customers with a buoyancy aid and explain the basics of the selected activity.
Launch
Staff help with launching and explain the operating boundaries that customers need to follow.
Buoyancy Aids, Boundaries and Water Safety
CWP Hire states that buoyancy aids must be worn by its hire customers. Staff also provide boundaries for customers to follow while using the lake.
Rules for open-water swimming and own-craft launch are not automatically identical to equipment hire. Always read the instructions attached to the activity you have actually booked.
Children and Families: Check the Activity, Not Just the Venue
Lake 86 should not be described as one activity that automatically suits every child. Hire, camps, swimming and other sessions can have different eligibility and supervision requirements.
Young family
Check the exact hire product and participant rules before promising children they can take part.
Teenagers
Match the activity to swimming confidence, paddling experience and the current operator rules.
Mixed-age group
Ask whether one activity can accommodate everyone or whether splitting into different sessions is more practical.
What Will a Lake 86 Visit Really Cost?
Do not plan the budget from a single old headline price. Your total depends on the activity, number of participants, whether you own equipment and any optional extras you choose.
Start with the session
- Hire or activity booking
- Swimming session if applicable
- Craft-launch booking if bringing equipment
- Any participant-specific booking requirement
Possible extra spending
- Travel to South Cerney
- Food and drinks
- Personal cold-water kit where needed
- Nearby activities if building a full day out
Gift Vouchers: What the Terms Say
Lake 86’s booking terms include gift-card and gift-voucher conditions. The terms state that voucher funds can be applied to eligible purchases through the Lake 86 booking system or reception.
The published terms also state that gift-card balances must be used within one year of purchase and cannot be redeemed for cash. Check the current terms again before buying a voucher as a present.
Cancellation and Booking Terms
Lake 86 publishes terms for bookings, but different products can have specific conditions. Kids Camp places, for example, have separate wording in the published terms.
Read the conditions that apply to the product you are purchasing before checkout. Do not assume that poor weather, illness, late arrival or a change of plans automatically creates a refund entitlement.
Lake 86 Address, Postcode and Map
CWP Hire, Lake 86
Address: Lake 86, Spine Road East, South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5TL.
Phone: 01285 860086
Email: info@cwphire.com
The operator specifically warns that GL7 5TL covers the whole road, which can make sat-nav directions unreliable.
Search the venue name
Use CWP Hire Lake 86 in Google Maps instead of choosing a generic “Cotswold Water Park” destination.
The official directions say Lake 86 is the first turning on the left after turning off the dual carriageway, before the Gateway Centre.
Lake 86 2026 Day-Trip Timeline
A booking-first timeline works better than trying to squeeze several Cotswold Lakes venues into one rushed day.
Before leaving home
Recheck your session, weather, water conditions, opening information, participant requirements and exact map location.
Before your booked slot
Allow enough time to park, find the activity base, check in and prepare. Do not schedule your road arrival for the same minute as the activity start.
During the session
Follow staff instructions, activity boundaries and equipment rules. Conditions on an outdoor lake can be different from a swimming pool.
After the water
Change into dry clothes before adding a walk, café or another Cotswold Lakes stop. Give yourself buffer time rather than booking back-to-back venues.
What to Bring to Lake 86
Booking kit
- Booking confirmation
- Phone with map saved
- Required participant information
- Emergency contact details where relevant
Dry-side kit
- Towel
- Complete dry change of clothes
- Warm layer
- Suitable footwear for before and after
Weather kit
- Sun protection on hot days
- Warm layer for cooler conditions
- Water bottle
- Any activity-specific kit confirmed by Lake 86
Weather and Water Temperature Matter More Here
Lake 86 is an outdoor lake, so weather and water conditions are part of the visit rather than background information. Wind can affect paddling comfort, while cooler water changes what swimmers may need to consider.
The Lake 86 booking system displays a current water-temperature reading. Treat that as a useful same-day planning signal, but follow the operator’s actual activity rules and staff instructions.
Accessibility and Additional Support
Open-water venues can present different access challenges from an indoor leisure centre. Do not infer water access, changing support or suitability from photographs.
If someone in your group needs step-free access, assistance getting into equipment, adapted participation, accessible changing or other support, contact Lake 86 before purchasing the activity.
Questions worth asking before booking
- Is the route from parking to check-in suitable for our needs?
- What assistance can staff provide for the selected activity?
- Are changing and toilet facilities suitable for our requirements?
- Is the specific activity appropriate for the participant’s access needs?
- Should we arrive earlier for additional assistance?
Common Lake 86 Planning Mistakes
❌ Expecting water slides
Lake 86 is a watersports lake. Visitors looking for a beach or inflatable obstacle course may need a different Cotswold Lakes venue.
❌ Using only the postcode
The operator says GL7 5TL covers the whole road. Save the exact Lake 86 map destination before leaving.
❌ Arriving at the booked start time
You still need to find the venue and check in. Busy periods can use a booking-slot wave system.
❌ Assuming every activity has identical rules
Hire, swimming, craft launch and special sessions are different products. Check the rules for the activity you book.
❌ Trusting an old price
Use the live booking system for the actual session you want rather than treating an old screenshot as the current tariff.
❌ Packing too many venues into one day
The Cotswold Lakes area is spread across many lakes. One main water session plus a relaxed second stop is usually easier.
Useful Lake 86 Official Links
These links each solve a different task. Use the booking system for live sessions and the CWP Hire pages for venue-specific instructions.
Related UKWaterPark.org Guides
Use these pages when your real search intent is broader than Lake 86 or you need to compare nearby Cotswold Lakes destinations.
South Cerney planner
Compare Lake 86 with the hotel, Visitor Centre and beach-related destinations around South Cerney.
South Cerney Water Park guideCirencester planner
Useful when your search is for the wider Cotswold Water Park area, tickets, maps and venue choices.
Cotswold Water Park Cirencester guideHotel stay
Use this if you actually need De Vere accommodation, spa or an overnight base rather than Lake 86 activity access.
De Vere Cotswold Water Park guideLake 86 vs beach day
If you want a family beach or inflatable-style attraction, compare that intent before booking Lake 86.
Compare Cotswold Lakes activity optionsLake 86 Contact Help
Contact the operator before booking when the website does not clearly answer a participant-specific question. This is especially useful for children, groups, accessibility needs, own craft, weather uncertainty or activity eligibility.
Cotswold Water Park Hire / Lake 86
Phone: 01285 860086
Email: info@cwphire.com
Address: CWP Hire, Lake 86, Spine Road East, South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5TL.
Lake 86 Before-You-Leave Checklist
Booking
- Correct activity category booked
- Participant rules checked
- Confirmation saved
- Cancellation conditions read
- Exact session time checked
Travel
- CWP Hire Lake 86 saved in maps
- GL7 5TL noted but not relied on alone
- Travel buffer added
- Opening information rechecked
Water
- Weather checked
- Water conditions considered
- Correct clothing packed
- Activity equipment rules checked
After the activity
- Towel packed
- Dry clothes packed
- Warm layer available
- Food or next stop planned without rushing
FAQs About Lake 86 Cotswold Water Park
Is Lake 86 Cotswold Water Park a waterpark with slides?
No. Lake 86 is an outdoor watersports and open-water venue rather than a conventional slide waterpark. Check other Cotswold Lakes attractions if you specifically want a beach or inflatable obstacle course.
Where is Lake 86?
Lake 86 is at CWP Hire, Lake 86, Spine Road East, South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5TL.
What can I book at Lake 86?
The official booking system lists activity categories including Hire, PAYG Swimming, SWIMPODIUM Timed Swim and Craft Launch Pay As You Go, along with memberships and selected events.
Can I hire equipment at Lake 86?
Yes. Lake 86 operates an equipment-hire booking category. Check the current hire choices and availability on the official booking system for your date.
Can I swim at Lake 86?
Lake 86 offers bookable open-water swimming products. Check the current swimming rules, session type and participant requirements before booking rather than assuming general lake access includes swimming.
Can I bring my own paddleboard or kayak?
Lake 86 has a dedicated Craft Launch Pay As You Go booking route. Check the current craft, safety-equipment and participant requirements before arriving with your own equipment.
Do hire customers have to wear buoyancy aids?
Yes. The official hire guidance states that buoyancy aids must be worn by hire customers. Staff fit the aid before launch.
What is the Lake 86 postcode?
The address uses GL7 5TL, but the operator warns that this postcode covers the whole road. Search for CWP Hire Lake 86 in your maps app for a more precise destination.
Should I arrive before my Lake 86 session?
Allow enough time to find the venue and check in before the booked slot. The operator says busy periods may use a wave system tied to booking times, so arriving at the last minute is a poor plan.
Is Lake 86 the same as Cotswold Country Park and Beach?
No. They are separate destinations with different activities, booking routes and entrances. Lake 86 is the CWP Hire watersports base at GL7 5TL.
How do I check Lake 86 opening times?
Use the official Cotswold Water Park Hire opening-times page and then confirm your activity through the Lake 86 booking calendar. Seasonal opening hours do not guarantee every activity has a session available.
Who should I contact about Lake 86 accessibility or child participation?
Contact CWP Hire directly on 01285 860086 or info@cwphire.com when participant suitability or accessibility is not clearly answered by the booking information.