Shearwater (lake) explained

Shearwater
Other Name:Shear Water
Location:Wiltshire
Coordinates:51.178°N -2.211°W
Etymology:Carp
Inflow:Streams
Outflow:River Wylye
Date-Built:Late 18c
Engineer:Frances Egerton
Pushpin Map:Wiltshire

Shearwater (or Shear Water) is a man-made freshwater lake near Crockerton village, about NaNmiles southwest of the town of Warminster in Wiltshire, England. The lake is formed from a tributary of the River Wylye.[1]

It is within the Longleat Estate (which also contains a Safari Park) and is one of five lakes of various sizes. Shearwater Lake, the largest, was created at the end of the 18th century, and designed by the 3rd Duke of Bridgwater, Francis Egerton. It is fed by streams dammed by the then Marquis of Bath. The lake is surrounded by mature woodland and is popular with anglers, walkers (especially those with dogs), runners, and cyclists.

It is about 650 yards long. There is a tea-room at Bargate Cottage which accepts dogs inside.[2]

The Shearwater Sailing Club has a boathouse and a variety of dinghies on the lake, the largest being sixteen feet (4.88 meters) in length.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wylye (Headwaters). Environment Agency - Catchment Data Explorer. 18 March 2018.
  2. J. J. Wheeler, 50 Classic Cycle Climbs: The Bristol-Bath Region (2016), p. 128
  3. http://www.shearwatersailingclub.co.uk/ Shearwater Sailing Club