Rudyard Lake (Reservoir), Staffordshire

HISTORY OF RUDYARD LAKE

Rudyard Lake has been a centre for leisure activities for over 200 years. The lake was built in 1797 to provide water for the canal system and is in fact a reservoir rather than a lake. The lake is still a major source of water for the Trent & Mersey canal system and is owned by British Waterways. Over 2.5 miles long is the largest straight stretch of water in England outside the Lake district

The name Rudyard came from Ralph Rudyard who is alleged to have killed Richard III. The lake gave its name to Rudyard Kipling whose parents first met at a party by its shores and had such a particular love for it that they named their child after it. He went onto become world famous for his stories such as Jungle Book and his poetry.

The Lake was developed by the North Staffordshire Railway Company as a leisure destination for the Potteries, Midlands and North West. Enormous numbers of visitors were carried to and from the small station at Rudyard with 88 trains and 20,253 passengers alone in one day in June 1913. The lake had two stations one in Rudyard village( Rudyard ) and one at Cliffe Park at the North end of the lake. This mainly served a golf course built by the railway. The golf course reverted to farm land as long ago as 1926. Footpaths run right round the lake and along the old railway track bed next to the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway.

Acitivity centre is the hub for events at Rudyard

View of the frozen lake at rudyard in December 2010

Views up a frozen lake in December 2010

The water level in the reservoir rises in winter and falls significantly during the summer due to the demands from the need to fill the locks in the canal system. The lake is one of the longest straight lakes in England and is becoming important as a centre for rowing. Power boats are not normally seen on the lake unless powered by steam or electricity.

The lake is in the Peak District and is very easy to get to for visitors from Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire the North West and Midlands. Its located between Leek, Congleton and Macclesfield. Take the A523 for 1 mile North of Leek and turn onto the B5331 to the free car park at Rudyard station.

LAKE ATTRACTIONS

The lake provides an ideal location for boating, bird watching, fishing, sailing and walking. Rowing boats are available for hire in the Summer along with the sale of fishing permits. Refreshments are available at Platform 2 Cafe at Rudyard Station at weekends when the train is running. The Hotel Rudyard is located near the Dam head and serves a full range of meals and refreshments as well as providing overnight accommodation. A covered picnic area is available at Rudyard Station. A new Activity Centre building was constructed at the Dam Head in 2004 to provide meeting rooms and storage for boating. A particular aim is to provide facilities for the disabled to enjoy access to the water. This work won a national award for excellence in 2006.

Santa also visits Rudyard lake by steam train on Sundays in December

View of the frozen lake and restored boathouse

Santa's Sleigh parked on the ice 12th December 2010

A new visitor centre and toilets opened at the Dam Head in early 2000. The visitor centre tells the story of the lake and its surroundings and is well worth a visit. The steam boat The Lady Alice sometimes offered trips along the lake. It returned to the lake after restoration in late April 2002 and was is in service on Sundays in summer. A new attraction is a the ex naval cutter launch Honey built in 1942. This will be offering cruises along the lake most weekends. A new landing stage was in use from 2003 and greatly improved facilities for boating on the lake.

A new Lake activity Centre building to house offices, meeting rooms, boating facilities etc opened in Summer 2004. This can be booked for conferences meetings, private parties etc. The Earl of Macclesfield boathouse was renovated and reopened in 2009

Rowing boats and the new visitor centres are located at the Dam head

TOP GEAR

The lake was the location for an episode of Top Gear where the presenters had to convert cars in to amphibious vehicles and head for Rudyard Reservoir. With substantial assistance from the Rudyard sailing club Captain Slow( James May) triumphed with his sail powered Triumph Herald after both other motor powered craft ( canal barge & pickup truck) sank. A follow up Top Gear episode at Dover produced a very different result with the sailing car unable to cope with the sea.

SECRET BRITAIN

This very poor BBC2 programme gave some publicity to property owners at Rudyard lake but totally ignored the key role of the railways past and present in promoting and developing the Lake. It also presented a false picture of the history and current use of the lake. The lake was owned and developed by the North Staffordshire Railway. It was a haven for the workers of the Midlands and North West and not a playground for the rich. The current railway attracts tens of thousands of visitors a year from round the globe. The lake has a quarter of a million visitors a year - its hardly a secret.

RUDYARD SAILABILITY

Recently the lake has become a national centre of excellence for sailing for those with disabilities. Sailability is a charity who have had great success in obtaining the specially adapted boats required. Attempts to build a boat house to house these have been very controversial and debate is still going on about the size and location of the proposed facilities.

The Lake has an active group of Friends of the Lake who work to care for it and promote its attractions. They welcome new members and can be contacted on 01260 299442. The Lake Ranger can be contacted on 01538 306280

The Friends of the Lake run a very popular Lake Festival on a Sunday each summer. It was held on August 2nd 2009. The date for 2010 was Sunday August 8th. In 2011 it will be held at August Bank Holiday

The lake is very popular with fishermen and fishing matches take place on most Saturdays and Sundays all year round. Permits can be obtained from the lake warden.

The Rudyard Sailing Club is located on the West side of the Lake. Their website is on the links page. Their boats are in action on most weekends.

The Rudyard Vale Caravan Park is also located nearby. Tel/Fax 01538 306398 for information.

Lake contacts

Ring Pay Perry on 01538 306280 or email the lake at info@rudyardlake.com or write to:

The Rudyard Lake Activity Centre, The Dam Head, Rudyard Lake, Rudyard, Nr. Leek, ST13 8XB

View through the famous arch in the hedge which is 100 years old at Rudyard

View through the 100 year old arch on the Dam Head December 18th 2010

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway Location

Rudyard Station, Rudyard Road, Rudyard, Nr. Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Station Telephone Number is 01538 306704 Railway Office telephone number is 01995 672280

To contact us by email click here info@rlsr.org

view of the visitor centre and Dam head on Rudyard lake

Santa meeting the train on his sleigh

The best way to see the lake is to take a trip along the narrow gauge steam railway which runs alongside the East shore before terminating alongside the lake at Hunthouse Wood opposite the Rudyard sailing club. The lake is superbly situated in a steep wooded valley at its South end. At the Northern end the valley opens out into wonderful rolling countryside and its easy to see why Rudyard Kipling's parents were so attracted to it and why it has been so popular as a day trip destination for so long.

Telephone - Office 01995 672280 Rudyard Station 01538 306704

www.rlsr.org