Etherow Country Park Reviews Summary

Park Facilities

Pros:

• "What a fabulous country park."
• "The cafe in the small garden centre is a small oasis away from the hoards."
• "Toilet and baby change facilities both in male and female toilets."
• "There's a sailing club, model boat club, mini rangers classes, a cafe, visitors centre & a there's even small privately owned garden centre that can be accessed from within park."
• "The cafe is excellent value for money and run by friendly staff following covid protocols requiring customers to wear masks and pay using contactless methods."
• "Lovely cafe too with reasonably priced food for on the way back once you have worked up an appetite."
• "Cafe. Free toilets. Parking is reasonably priced."

Cons:

• "But the rest is sadly in need of investment - puddles right across the paths - too much litter."
• "Our only complaint was the toilet facilities were closed, this is not acceptable when the cafe is open."
• "The cafe and open centre is good put the park is looking very up-kept."
• "Food at the café was good but the whole area gets very untidy with food & litter on the floor."
• "Public conveniences at either end of the park, but those at the far end always seem to be closed."
• "Great place, let down by visitor center with no information, it seems to.have become a gift shop, not even maps on the wall .or leaflets about the area its history the wildlife the geography activities whsts on.etc..."
• "The overall maintenance left much to be desired. Hope they can improve the conditions."

Parking

Pros:

• "For parking it's best to use the designated car park which is inexpensive too - £1 for 2 hours and £2 for 4 hours, can be paid and extended if needed using the RingGo app."
• "Parking is excellent and also cheap- you can pay online using the RingGo Parking App."
• "A large cheap car park and a vibrant sailing club."
• "Car park was £2 for 4 hours."
• "Parking charge is good value."
• "Only £3 to park all day, assuming there's a space - get there early if it's a nice day!"
• "Parking is reasonably priced."

Cons:

• "It's a small park and always over crowded due to narrow pathways and limited access."
• "Car park is not large, it's small, so people are obstructing residents access and traffic wardens attending, so expect delays getting in and out of the village."
• "Parking can be a bit of a stress if you have a big car, but persevere as the turnover is quick thanks to dogwalkers."
• "A bit of a tangled up mess around the car park but it was a bank holiday & very busy!"
• "The car park is the only pain. It can get rather full and it's quite tight to park in there."
• "The car park is insane because it just isn't large enough to accommodate every car even with the overflow across the road."
• "Not much parking when it's busy.. As it is during weekends.. Regardless of weather."

Wildlife and Scenery

Pros:

• "Visited many times, large numbers of water dwelling birds, always a great sight."
• "Beautiful place, so peaceful, love thr forest... Keep going through the forest to the main road at the top and the view is immense."
• "Etherow is a small beautiful country park. Several short and longer walks in lovely scenery."
• "A haven for wildfowl in a beautiful setting."
• "Lots of ducks and geese and different walks around a central lake. Wildlife and sensory garden to explore."
• "Beautiful, calm and soothing place with ample parking (though busy over weekends) scenic driving route and close to motorways."
• "Great place to visit for a nice walk around."

Cons:

• "The main 'lake' for want of a better word, tends to attract the great unwashed and the odd hoody to some extent."
• "When we went though there were 2 dead geese in the lake and when someone reported them to the cafe staff... they were told they were probably just sleeping - they definitely were not sleeping - so not pleasant for anyone out with kids having to explain that one."
• "They do have to sort out the stagnant water issue on the left side of the lake, in the summer months it reeks to high heaven."
• "No wonder nobody fishes it anymore."
• "The only downside we felt was the smell at times going round from the ducks/geese/swans but is to be expected somewhat when walking around a lake."
• "Park being spoilt by people leaving their picnic rubbish behind and not in the bins, absolutely no respect for the wildlife."
• "Sometimes all the bins are overflowing, therefore rubbish ends up all over the ground, shame really!"

Accessibility

Pros:

• "The main paths were pram friendly."
• "Lovely park with duck pond with circular path around which can accommodate prams and plenty of benches including a picnic area by the waterfall."
• "There is a path all the way around but boots or wellies advised as its muddy in places."
• "Paths are well maintained around the lake."
• "Well laid-out paths around the lake that are flat and accessible to all leading to the weir."
• "This place is stunning and it’s not a very long walk you can chose to take a longer path but ultimately this is a great place to get you kids outdoors as this place is buggy and wheelchair friendly for the most part."
• "Very easy walk for all ages and not too muddy."

Cons:

• "Some paths were very overgrown & needed to be navigated with care to avoid nettles & brambles."
• "In addition, there is not much in the way of safety equipment for an area with such easy access to deep water."
• "This isn't a large country park by any means. You can walk around the water within half an hour."
• "The park is not well maintained, paths very muddy and some of the drainage channels are frequently blocked, with corresponding decay and accompanying stench."
• "Nice long flat walk but it's very muddy in places and they charge £1 for 2hrs, £2 for 4hrs, all day for £3."
• "It can be fairly muddy in some places due to recent rainfall so recommend wellies or walking boots."
• "Only downside is the amount of goose poo all over the paths."