SPRING LAKES REVIEW
Location: Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 2FZ
We visited Saturday 3rd June - 4th July 2023
Apologies in advance if this review reads rather negatively... as we did have a lovely time.. there were just a few tiny things that when added up made it all a little bit of a frustrating trip... However, this is sometimes just how the cookie crumbles... and as I say we had a great time in hindsight, and I'm hopeful no one else will be unlucky enough to experience all of these downfalls, or at least through reading this review can plan accordingly for a better trip. So here it goes...
PRICE, BOOKING AND GENERAL INFO:
We booked through the website and paid for a grass non-electric pitch at £25 per night - this includes up to 4 people and 1 car.
you also have the option of; Hard standing pitches with electric are priced at £35 per night or Grass electric pitches are £30 per night.
It's useful to note that when booking the 'grass non-electric' information doesn't mention 'campervans' or 'motorhomes' - just simply ' Pitch your tent within the Spring Lakes Orchid grounds (without electric)' Because of this I rang up to check that we'd be ok and the lady said yes - it's just sometimes in the winter months it can get a bit boggy so vans can get stuck.
Note, there is a cost for additional items for example;
- 1x Small Pup Tent: £5
- Awning: £3
- Dog: £3 per dog
- and 50p charge to use a hairdryer in the toilet block
All of this information (other than the hair dryer) can be found on the booking website.
It's also good to beware that the main website states check-in is from 12 noon on the day of arrival and departure is by 10am - however on the 'booking page' it states Check-in is from 1pm on the day of arrival and you are requested to vacate your pitch by 11am on your day of departure.
I asked about this when I rang about vans being on grass with non-electric and the lady said to arrive anytime after 12pm.
For the morning of departure, we had a slow pack down and left around 10.30am. No one came round kicking us off or checking, and other people were still mid pack down too so I reckon you'd be good till 11am.
DIRECTIONS
Google maps took us straight there no issues. However, the campsite is accessed through the back of the main entrance car park. Now, for those that don't know spring lakes - it's also a watersports activity centre with inflatable assault course activities for adults and children, pedalos, kayaks/paddle boards to hire, free swimming and wakeboarding lessons/ramps - so with us arriving at a Saturday lunchtime, in June and at 21 degrees c temperatures - as you can imagine it was busy!
There were car park attendees on - showing and directing people where to park - but neither knew where we had to go to camp/check in...
Looking back to gather the info to write this review I have spotted that on the booking page before check out it says "Please check in at our Wake Spring Lakes shop located towards the end of the car park or the beach hut" - but we totally missed this and it's not included/mentioned on the confirmation email either - which would of been handy... so our experience is as follows;
The first attendee said to head down to the bottom end and the attendee there will direct us and give us more info...
They said to follow the road around and we'll find the camping area - which we did...
We found the hardstanding, the grass pitches, the pitches for members only, the tipis - all of it - but no one to report to, or check in with or tell us where anything was...
So we turned around and drove back to ask the second attendee for more information - specifically checking in, where the water was, facilities etc - and he couldn't give us any of this info, and quite frankly looked petrified and shocked that we'd even asked... so we went back to the first attendee who also didn't know... but they advised we ask the Wake boarding cafe staff.
So, finally, and another two people later - HURRAH we found someone who could check us in and tell us all the info we needed to know. Which wasn't a great deal in all honesty...
THE SITE
The grass non-electric area is noted as the 'wild camping' area. But it's not 'wild camping' at all, there are facilities, all be it far away! But they've called it 'wild' as it's a 'free for all' area for you to pitch up where you like in amongst the trees and bushes.
We turned in just where the sign was, and drove down a little grass lane and pitched up in front of a row of trees and had this little lovely 'alcove area' all to ourselves. In all honesty, we were pleasantly surprised with how quiet the campsite area was considering the time of year, school holidays and the weather.. but our private little alcove didn't stay quiet and private for long as it did get busier later in the day - which I'll cover further down...
Because of this, and because we're boring and old, next time I think we'll pay the extra money to have a hard-standing pitch - as these were closer to the facilities/activities and also less chance of getting blocked in/space being invaded.
For any of you that have been to Coniston Hall up at the lakes district - this place has a similar vibe/setup - camp wherever you find space, fires, music, chill.
Facilities:
It states that there's facilities (and there are) - so we didn't bother taking our loo with us. Which was a big mistake - especially with my weak bladder! The toilets and pot washing facilities were the block opposite the wakeboarding cafe and a good 5min walk from where we were to camp...
Half of these also didn't lock, and i don't think have for a while as when I asked a worker walking by how to lock them in case I was just doing it wrong the guy responded with "just use the disabled, they've all gone a bit funny". And the morning we were leaving - one of the ones that were ok and did lock - now somehow was missing a toilet seat.. and the majority of the others had no loo roll...
The water tap we luckily drove past and saw - and this is at the back of the hardstanding pitch area. I didn't spot an elsan..
Facilities:
It states that there's facilities (and there are) - so we didn't bother taking our loo with us. Which was a big mistake - especially with my weak bladder! The toilets and pot washing facilities were the block opposite the wakeboarding cafe and a good 5min walk from where we were to camp...
Half of these also didn't lock, and i don't think have for a while as when I asked a worker walking by how to lock them in case I was just doing it wrong the guy responded with "just use the disabled, they've all gone a bit funny". And the morning we were leaving - one of the ones that were ok and did lock - now somehow was missing a toilet seat.. and the majority of the others had no loo roll...
The water tap we luckily drove past and saw - and this is at the back of the hardstanding pitch area. I didn't spot an elsan..
WATERSPORT ACTIVITIES
If you have your own gear you can book a time slot online at £15 for 2 hours
Alternatively, you can hire equipment for 1 hour or book lessons.
All info is on the website and can be booked online in advance which I highly recommend as it can get busy/no spaces available if you leave it too late.
I also recommend signing the waivers in advance, and/or getting there early to do this as well as pumping up any of your own inflatable gear as all this soon eats into your 'on the water time'.
There are toilets and changing facilities up here also - all be it converted shipping containers - but they do the job!
Now, if you're camping.. the annoying thing is that you have to walk all the way to the other end of the carpark where you first entered to access the activity check-in area and board the water - there is no separate entry point/area.
The carpark is also large rough gravel - and painful to walk on in wetsuit boots/shoes - there are areas that are 'fake grass paved' specifically so you're not hurt your feet on the gravelled stones - but this does not cover the facility area.
So if you have a lot of stuff - I advise you either take a trolley, get up early and drive the car/van around and claim car parking space closer, or the other option is, you can aim to get there for the time of you're slot - and pitch up camp after - and this is why I think the site was so quiet when we arrived at 12 as most people were parked in the main car park doing activities.
For us, we carried all our gear and the Kayak down deflated in its carry bag... pumped it up and put anything we didn't want to take with us in our friends car in the car park. Spent 2hours on the water and then carried the kayak and gear back to the campsite - where we then deflated it. If I had been on my own - this would of been an awful experience as I'd of had to of deflated the kayak on the side and struggled to get it folded, wet back into its carry bag to then carry it back to camp.
The area on the water for Kayaking/Paddle-boarding was fantastic - and so much bigger than Holme-pier-pont or Carsington. You paddle out past the inflatable assault course and veer to the right around the corner and the lake opens out in front of you, you just have to be careful of the wild swimmers!
The staff are proper chill, laid back super friendly, and happy to help - they just didn't all know the relevant information.
and if you're lucky/unlucky enough - they may come and park up next to you after their shifts are done, start a fire, play loud music, with flashing lights, and tell their mates how good it is, so a golf buggy of another 6 people turn up with more beer and wine... and watch jack ass really loud till midnight and just generally just have a real good time...
Luckily for us, they didn't keep us up at all - and we were in bed by 10.30 with our own projector on - and asleep by midnight.
If we'd been in a tent I think it would have been a different story and I'd of either had to try and join in - or complain! So take ear plugs if you're a light sleeper.
OVERALL
- amazing large lake to paddle on
- lots to do for young and old
- great vibe and atmosphere
- onsite cafe/drinks
- The car park is busy - so make sure you know where you going when you arrive - and this is the wake boarding cafe to check in for camping which is top left hand side opposite the facilities and a big empty marquee.
- If you have a lot of gear - activity first - camp later
- Take your own portaloo
- book in advance if not local
and we'll be going back for sure - especially we now know what to do and expect.. just wish they had direct access/closer access to the lake from the camping area. and better facilities for campers.
