Short birdwatching visit · Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Roundhouse Lake
- Tier
- Good stop nearby
- Best season
- Winter wildfowl; March–August is also recommended by the operator
- Headline birds
- Goldeneye · Pochard · Wigeon
- Parking
- Parking is available in Lechlade town or at Whelford Pools; the reserve itself is reached on foot.
- Hides
- Not stated by the operator
- Step-free
- The Trust describes muddy and rutted paths; no step-free circuit is confirmed.
West of Lechlade, south of the A417 near Bryworth Lane
Roundhouse Lake is a walk-in wetland reserve west of Lechlade, with a broad expanse of open water created from former gravel workings. The Trust names Wigeon, Goldeneye and Pochard among its wintering wildfowl, while grebes provide another reason to pause over the lake. Arrive on foot from Lechlade or the established route from Whelford Pools and stay on the available visitor paths. Seasonal restrictions protect nesting birds and may change which parts can be reached. Its separate lake and approach make this another destination, rather than an extra name for Whelford’s hides.
Birds and seasons
- Goldeneye · Headline bird — Winter Source for Goldeneye
- Pochard · Headline bird — Winter Source for Pochard
- Wigeon · Headline bird — Winter Source for Wigeon
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Paths
- Wide paths can become rutted and muddy after rain; some access is seasonally restricted for nesting birds.
- Toilets
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Parking
- Parking is available in Lechlade town or at Whelford Pools; the reserve itself is reached on foot.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs under effective control and follow any seasonal wildlife restrictions.
- Access notes
- The Trust describes muddy and rutted paths; no step-free circuit is confirmed.
- Step-free access
- The Trust describes muddy and rutted paths; no step-free circuit is confirmed.
Getting there: Plan a walking approach from Lechlade or Whelford Pools. The Trust’s detailed directions describe a single-lane track south of the A417, but its access section explicitly limits reserve arrival to walking. Do not drive down that track assuming the lake has visitor parking.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Snelsmore Common Country Park · 24.0 straight-line miles
- Greenham and Crookham Commons · 28.2 straight-line miles
- Highnam Woods · 28.8 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Otmoor, 24.5 miles away in a straight line.
- Whelford Pools · 1.6 miles in a straight line
- Blakehill Farm including Stoke Common Meadow · 8.9 miles in a straight line
- Chimney Meadows · 9.7 miles in a straight line