Our Time at Bolam Lake Country Park

Some walks are about reaching the top.

Bolam Lake isn't one of them.

This is somewhere for a slow Sunday afternoon: woodland paths, sunlight through the trees, swans drifting across the lake and a couple of gentle miles with very little effort required.

We visited after lunch at The Running Fox at Kirkharle, with friends, two dogs and babies in carriers.

It was exactly the sort of afternoon we hoped it would be.

The Walk Around Bolam Lake

The obvious walk is simply to follow the paths around the lake.

The information board at the park describes the lakeside circuit as approximately 30 minutes and around half a mile, while a longer network of woodland paths can easily turn your visit into an hour or two.

We did the latter.

That's probably the nicest way to experience Bolam anyway. Don't worry too much about following a precise route. Wander around the lake, disappear into the trees for a while and eventually find yourself back beside the water.

It's difficult to get terribly lost when there's a large lake in the middle. Even Tom can manage it.

What It's Like

Beautifully relaxed.

The woodland is a mixture of mature trees with stretches where the path opens onto the water. On our visit, late-summer sunshine was breaking through the canopy while the first hints of autumn were beginning to appear.

Then every so often the trees opened and there was the lake again. Swans. Ducks. Ripples catching the sunlight.

And plenty of places where you find yourself stopping for absolutely no reason other than it looks nice.

That's probably Bolam at its best.

Is Bolam Lake Family Friendly?

Very.

This isn't somewhere you need to prepare for an expedition.

The main lakeside paths are described at the park as accessible for people using wheelchairs and pushchairs, although some of the woodland tracks are naturally rougher underfoot.

We had babies in carriers, which made exploring the woodland particularly easy.

There are also picnic areas and plenty of open space, so it would be an easy place to spend longer with children when the weather behaves itself.

Can You Bring the Dog?

Yes.

Dogs are welcome, although the park asks that they're kept under control.

With wildlife around the lake — including plenty of ducks and swans — that's worth remembering.

There are also lots of tempting woodland smells requiring extremely important canine investigation. Allow additional time accordingly.

When Should You Visit?

We caught Bolam on one of those gorgeous days between summer and autumn. Warm sunshine. Long shadows beneath the trees. Just the first few leaves beginning to turn. It was lovely.

Autumn should be particularly beautiful once the woodland changes colour, although we'd expect some of the paths to become considerably muddier as the year progresses.

Walking boots rather than pristine white trainers would be our choice after prolonged rain.

Is Bolam Lake Worth Visiting?

Absolutely — particularly if you want an easy couple of hours rather than a serious walk.

There isn't a grand destination waiting at the end. No castle. No summit. No dramatic viewpoint that everyone queues to photograph.

The lake is the destination.

Walk beneath the trees. Stop beside the water. Watch the swans for five minutes. Then carry on when you feel like it.

Northumberland does days like this rather well.

Tom's Notebook

• Walk: Lakeside and woodland paths
• Difficulty: Easy
• Time: 30 minutes for the basic lakeside circuit; allow 1–2 hours for a leisurely wander
• Terrain: Surfaced lakeside paths with rougher woodland sections
• Pushchairs: Main lakeside route suitable
• Dogs: Welcome, under control
• Children: Very family friendly
• Facilities: Parking, toilets and café/visitor facilities
• Wildlife: Swans, ducks and woodland birds; you might get lucky with a kingfisher
• Best time: Spring through autumn; expect mud after wet winter weather
• H&S tip: Don't rush around the lake. That's rather missing the point.

Where we ate: We combined Bolam with lunch at The Running Fox, Kirkharle, which makes a cracking little Sunday pairing.

From the Journal: Read A Foxy Pie and a Walk Around the Lake for the story of our day.