Activities around Grafham Water
Grafham Water offers trout fishing and coarse fishing. There are a wide range of permit options available and fishing boats can be hired from Grafham fishing lodge.
You can fish as a season ticket holder or a day ticket angler. If you have children, they can accompany you and fish for free within the rules and limits of the permit, although age restrictions apply to boat fishing for trout.
Grafham Water hosts national and international fly fishing competitions .You can witness the excitement of the catch weigh-in at the fishing lodge, usually around 6pm.
Fishing permits are available from the tackle shop. However, if the shop is shut, tickets are available direct from the wardens who can be found in the workshop at the anglers car park, Grafham Water Park.
The 2017/18 season commences on Friday 3 March and runs to Wednesday 31 January 2018.
Grafham Water Centre is 100 metres from the shoreline of possibly the best inland sailing venue in the country. The centre has a large fleet of dinghies to choose from and a team of friendly, qualified and experienced RYA Instructors to guide you.
Whether you are sailing for the first time in a Pico, race training, enjoying the excitement of sailing in a multihull, handling an asymmetric spinnaker in a Laser 2000 or learning the finer points of seamanship, the emphasis will be on a hands-on, practical experience in a safe learning environment. You can choose from a wide range of courses to find exactly what you want.
The nature reserve at Grafham Water Park is an excellent setting for those who enjoy bird watching, with seven purpose built hides and several nature trails. Created in the mid 1960’s, the reserve covers 80 hectares.
One of the prime bird-watching sites in the county, with around 170 species of bird recorded each year. There are large numbers of coot and tufted duck in the winter along with occasional rarer visitors such as great northern diver, a variety of grebe species and various wading bird. Black and Arctic terns visit in spring and autumn, and common terns are present throughout summer. The reservoir is also great for gull watching, with upwards of 30,000 birds roosting in midwinter, and occasional visits from Mediterranean, Iceland and glacous gulls.
Footpaths leading into the reserve give access to bird hides on the shores. The woodland offers shady walks, and in the spring nightingales sing in the scrub. In summer the meadows bloom with exquisite wildflowers including bee and common spotted orchids.
A circular track around Grafham Reservoir set in 1,500 acres of beautiful countryside with footpaths and cycle track around the waterline, most of the reservoir and its shores has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
You can bring your own bicycle or hire one from the cycle hire centre Marlow car park. Cycle hire at Grafham is an enjoyable and affordable day out for the whole family. At Grafham you can enjoy 10 miles of traffic-free waterside cycling through a wildlife-rich nature reserve, or venture off-road on to the Three Shires Way.
The perimeter track around Grafham Water is a very easy walk at any time of year. There's several large car parks you can start from. Being a cycle track, the path is of good quality throughout. Stop to admire the wonderful scenery at one of the many catering outlets along the route.