Using the Long Lake

The Long Lake is here to be enjoyed. It is one of the loveliest parts of Fforest Fields, and many guests value the chance to swim, paddle, sit by the water and spend time close to it. It is also a natural, spring fed lake, which means safe use depends on care, judgement and personal responsibility. It is not a managed pool or supervised leisure facility, and conditions can vary with season, weather and recent use.

Lake use is restricted to registered guests of Fforest Fields only.

Open water swimming and water activities carry inherent risks and all use of the lake is undertaken entirely at guests’ own risk.

There are no lifeguards and no active supervision of the lake by Fforest Fields staff.

Guests must follow all lake signage, safety guidance and staff instructions at all times.

Guests should use the lake thoughtfully, with proper attention to their own safety, the safety of any children in their care, and the comfort and enjoyment of others.

A natural place to swim

The lake is part of a living landscape. Water temperature, depth, clarity and margins may vary, and there may be natural weed, duck mite, mud, soft ground, slippery edges and other changing conditions that are simply part of open water.

Water depth and lake margins can vary significantly and some areas may become deep suddenly.

For many people that is part of the pleasure of swimming here, but it does mean you must use your own judgement and not assume conditions will always feel the same from one day to the next.

Please take a moment before entering the water. Look at the conditions, think about your confidence and ability, and decide honestly whether that moment is right for you. If you are unsure, tired, cold, unwell, uncomfortable or not a confident swimmer, the sensible choice is not to get in.

Your responsibility when using the lake

Anyone choosing to swim or enter the water is responsible for making sensible decisions about whether it is appropriate for them to do so.

Please only enter the lake if you are confident in open water, comfortable with the conditions on the day, and capable of getting in and out safely.

Do not treat the lake as a managed activity area. There are no lifeguards, no active supervision, and no one assessing conditions on your behalf. Safe use depends on guests behaving responsibly and exercising good judgement throughout.

Please do not enter the water if:

  • you feel unwell, faint, overly tired or physically below par

  • you have been drinking alcohol or are otherwise impaired

  • the weather is poor, windy, stormy or changing quickly

  • the water feels too cold for your experience level

  • you are not confident in your ability to swim in open water

  • you are relying on others to manage the risk for you

  • you would be swimming alone

  • it is dusk, dark or visibility is poor

Swimming and lake rules

The following rules apply at all times:

  • No lone swimming is permitted

  • No swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking or lake use is permitted after dark

  • Children under the age of 14 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times when near or in the lake

  • Guests aged 14 to 17 must have a responsible adult present on site during lake use

  • Diving, jumping from structures and reckless behaviour are not permitted

  • Guests must only enter the water from designated access points

  • Guests must not enter the water under the influence of alcohol or drugs

  • All lake users must follow instructions from Fforest Fields staff

During colder months the lake can become significantly more challenging. Cold water can affect breathing, strength and decision making very quickly, even for capable swimmers, and conditions may shift faster than expected.

Anyone choosing to swim during colder periods should do so responsibly and only if experienced and genuinely comfortable in cold water conditions.

Children and supervision

Children must be supervised at all times when near or in the lake.

Parents and guardians are fully responsible for children around the water and should supervise actively and closely. Young children, less confident swimmers, and children using inflatables or buoyancy aids should be kept within arm’s reach where appropriate.

The lake can be a wonderful place for families, but only when adults stay attentive and make safety their priority.

Buoyancy aids and water confidence

Anyone who is not a strong or confident swimmer should think carefully before entering the lake.

Suitable buoyancy aids must be worn by all guests using paddleboards, kayaks or similar craft.

Buoyancy aids are also strongly recommended for children and weaker swimmers.

Flotation aids can support safer use, but they do not replace close supervision, water confidence or good judgement. Please use them as part of a sensible approach, not as a reason to take greater risks.

Looking after a shared space

The lake is for everyone to enjoy. Please use it in a way that is calm, considerate and respectful of others nearby.

Avoid reckless behaviour, rough play that may alarm others, and anything likely to encourage unsafe choices by children or less experienced swimmers.

Please also help us keep the lake clean and pleasant for everyone.

  • Do not leave litter, food packaging or broken equipment by the water

  • Do not use soaps, shampoos or detergents in the lake

  • Do not wash clothing or equipment in the lake

Water quality

Water quality is monitored throughout the bathing season, including regular microbiological and visual inspections.

Swimming or lake use may be restricted or suspended if water quality is considered unsafe.

Emergency procedure

Rescue equipment is positioned around the lake for emergency use.

In an emergency:

  • Call 999 immediately

  • Ask for Ambulance and explain there is an open water incident at Fforest Fields

  • Notify Reception as soon as possible

Any accident, incident, concern or near miss relating to lake use should be reported to Reception immediately.

Biosecurity: helping protect the lake

Because this is a natural waterbody, we ask all guests to help protect it from invasive species, pests and water borne disease.

Across Wales and the UK, official guidance encourages people using lakes, rivers and other freshwater sites to follow the “Check, Clean, Dry” approach, because invasive plants, animals and diseases can be spread accidentally on damp clothing, footwear and equipment.

This matters even when kit looks clean. Small fragments of plant material, mud, trapped water and microscopic organisms can all be moved from one place to another on wetsuits, shoes, towels, paddleboards and other gear.

Official guidance notes that thorough drying is important because some invasive species can survive on damp equipment for more than two weeks.

Please follow Check, Clean, Dry

Before leaving the lake, and before using your kit in any other river, lake or wetland, please:

  • Check your clothing, footwear and equipment for mud, weed, plant fragments or anything clinging to it

  • Remove any visible debris straight away and leave it at the lake, rather than taking it elsewhere

  • Clean kit as soon as possible using fresh water where you can

  • Drain any water from items that can hold or trap it

  • Dry everything thoroughly before using it in another waterbody

This applies to wetsuits, swim shoes, boots, sandals, towels, dry robes, paddleboards, floats, changing mats, dog kit and anything else that goes near or into the water.

Official “Check, Clean, Dry” materials advise drying equipment thoroughly in sunlight where possible, or hanging it to dry for at least 48 hours before using it elsewhere.

Practical biosecurity at Fforest Fields

To help protect the lake, please:

  • avoid bringing wet, recently used kit straight from another lake, river or canal unless it has already been cleaned and dried properly

  • clean and dry your own swim kit, footwear and water gear after use

  • avoid dragging weed or mud up the bank and leaving it on paths or grass

  • keep lake gear separate from gear used elsewhere if possible

  • take extra care with footwear, wetsuits and anything folded, padded or absorbent, as these can stay damp for longer

  • make the same checks for children’s items and dog gear if they have been in or near the water

The aim is simple: enjoy the lake, but do not carry anything from it to somewhere else, and do not bring anything unwanted in from another waterbody.

We are very happy for guests to enjoy the Long Lake, but safe and respectful use depends on people taking proper responsibility for their own choices.

Please use the lake with care, supervise children closely, make honest decisions about conditions and ability, and help protect the water itself by following good biosecurity every time you visit.

By entering or using the lake area, guests confirm they have read, understood and agree to comply with these lake safety rules.

Please enjoy it well, and help us keep it safe and in good order for everyone.