Alderford Lake

View prices & book 7.5 11 reviews
Water activities available onsite
Water activities onsite
Water activities onsite
Camping field

  • Lakeside site one mile from Whitchurch in Shropshire
  • Wild swimming, watersports hire and an aqua park on site
  • On-site café serving homemade food made with fresh local produce
Activities in the water are a big highlight at Alderford Lake, one mile from Whitchurch in Shropshire. This lakeside site has a range of water activities available to book (for an additional fee), including wild swimming, paddlesports hire (including canoes, kayaks and paddleboards) and an aqua park. If you have your own watercrafts, you're welcome to bring them along and self-launch instead. That's not all there is to look forward to: there's also a lovely lakeside on-site café serving breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas seven days a week, all homemade using the freshest local ingredients from Shropshire, Cheshire and Wales. The scenic lake and grounds are used throughout the year by open-air swimmers, runners and dog walkers, many of whom are already regulars at the café. There are regular events, so ask when you arrive to see what's on during your stay. Try out the lakeside walks for yourself or head along the play area if the kids are asking to run around a little. Escape rooms are also based on site, so for an additional fee, see if you can break free. When evening settles in, you may want to head to the communal firepit for some fireside stories with other guests.

Site type

Tent pitches 20
Touring caravan pitches 5
Motorhome pitches 5
Rent a tent 7
Open now
Opens 1 May
Please note
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Facilities/activities including 7.50 are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Guests must bring their own duvets, pillows, sheets and towels when staying in rental accommodation. You will not be allowed to stay if you do not bring these items.
  • Single-sex bookings of 4 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Group bookings of 4 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • Group bookings of 2 or more units (e.g. tent, touring caravan, motorhome or accommodation hire) travelling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Swimming in the lake is available from April to the end of October and is subject to extra charges (£5 per person per session per day).

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri 1 May to

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Other options

Reviews

  • 27%
    10
  • 9%
    9
  • 9%
    8
  • 27%
    7
  • 9%
    6
  • 9%
    5
  • 9%
    4
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    3
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    2
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    1
Location
9
Value for money
8
Accommodation
9
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
9
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
7

73% would recommend this site to a friend

73% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 2
Arrival date (latest first)

Large pitches Close to lake and activities…

Overall

5 out of 10
Location
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Kate j. 1 review

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Large pitches
Close to lake and activities
Good location
Very basic at the min
If the washing and toilet facilities were improved would return

Disliked -Toilet and washing facilities are very poor for price - if site was fully booked unsure how 3 female toilets and 3 male would cope
-could not control shower temp and found it very hot during the heatwave with little ventilation so was very uncomfortable
- no area to wash face, teeth or hands etc
-luckily staff was on site to discuss showers which were not working after closing but had tried number first which did not work - luckily staff members still on site
-no real check in and during extreme busy periods day visits parked in camping bit(secure for tent?)

Recommend to friends Visit again

The most expensive basic site I have ever stayed on

Overall

4 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
1
Facilities / Activities
2
Customer service
8
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
2
Wifi
No rating

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Pitch sizes were great
Camping field was great
Location next to lake was great

Disliked Only 1 sink.
The smell from the toilets was horrendous
Had to pay each day to use the lake so a really expensive trip for a very very basic site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your feedback, Catherine. We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed the spacious pitches, camping field and lakeside location, and we appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed comments following your stay.

As this is a newly opened campsite, we know there are areas that require improvement and your feedback has been genuinely helpful. We fully recognise the concerns raised regarding the toilet facilities, washing-up provision, site security and communication, including the contact number issue, all of which are being reviewed as we continue developing the campsite experience.

Lake activities are booked separately to camping, allowing guests the flexibility to choose how they would like to spend their stay. Camping guests are also provided with a discount code to use against lake activities during their visit.

Thank you again for your honest and constructive feedback. Comments like yours are incredibly valuable during these early stages and will help shape improvements moving forward.

Fab stay would stay again. Water park snd lake were perfect.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Anonymous

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked How close the campsite was to the water

Disliked The noise from the passing traffic at night

Recommend to friends Visit again

Bell tent was great Fire pit…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
6
Anonymous

Bell tent

Liked Bell tent was great
Fire pit area was good for cooking and toasting marshmallows
Beds comfy

Disliked Toilets didn’t have sinks for washing face/brushing teeth etc
No sanitary bins in the ladies toilets

Recommend to friends Visit again

Peaceful and quiet Loved the bell…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Peaceful and quiet
Loved the bell tent everything was spotless inside
Lovely touch having the fire pit with the wood provided

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your lovely review, Maria. We’re so pleased you enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and that you loved the bell tent. It’s great to hear everything was spotless and that the fire pit and complimentary wood helped make your stay extra special.

We really appreciate you taking the time to leave such kind feedback, especially during our very first opening weekend. We hope to welcome you and your family back again soon.

Overall really enjoyed the location and will be back

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
9
Value for money
9
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
8
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
6
Wifi
1
Nick T. 1 review

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Location, good pitch size, great for access to the lake

Disliked More washing up facilities, shower rooms need to include basin for washing and toothbrushing etc.

Toilets require servicing more regularly

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your review, Nick. We're really pleased to hear you enjoyed the location, the generous pitch sizes, and the easy access to the lake.

As this was our first weekend open, we’re definitely still learning and really appreciate the constructive feedback regarding the washing-up facilities, shower room basins, and toilet servicing. Comments like yours are incredibly helpful as we continue improving the site and facilities for guests.

We’re glad you had an enjoyable stay overall and look forward to welcoming you and your family back again soon.

Lovely position and each pitch was…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
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Wifi
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Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Lovely position and each pitch was big enough despite it being very busy.

Disliked Toilets and showers were adequate but there were no wash basins ( apart from three to wash dishes) thus nowhere to clean your teeth.
We were initially asked to pay to go into the lake area. This was not made clear anywhere on the website or in the ( many) emails we received before arriving.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your review, Bridget. We’re so pleased you enjoyed the setting and the spacious pitches, especially during such a busy weekend.

As this was our very first weekend open, we’re still learning and really appreciate your helpful feedback regarding the facilities. We completely understand the point about having dedicated wash basins for brushing teeth and general washing, and it’s something we’re already taking on board as we improve the site.

Lake access information and charges were included in our pre-arrival emails, but we appreciate the feedback and will review how clearly this is communicated to guests ahead of their stay.

We’re glad you enjoyed your stay overall and hope to welcome you back again soon.

Great location but room for improvement

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
9
Value for money
7
Accommodation
7
Facilities / Activities
7
Customer service
7
Child friendliness
8
Cleanliness
4
Wifi
5

Bell tent

Liked Next to the lake so perfect for visiting. Bell tents were nice and clean.

Disliked Toilets for dirty and no handwashing area. Washing up area limited to just 1 sink for everything. Showers were ok if working which wasn’t guaranteed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your feedback, Glenn. We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed the lakeside location and found the bell tents clean and comfortable.

As this was our very first opening weekend, we know there are areas where improvements are needed and we really appreciate you taking the time to highlight them. We fully recognise the issues raised around the toilets, showers, handwashing facilities and washing-up area, and these are all things we are actively reviewing as we continue developing the site and improving the guest experience.

We’re glad you still enjoyed your stay overall and hope to welcome you and your family back again.

Bell tents were lovely and beds…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
10
Value for money
9
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
6
Child friendliness
9
Cleanliness
9
Wifi
No rating

Bell tent

Liked Bell tents were lovely and beds really comfy too.
Such good location to the lake.
Would love to come again

Disliked No showers at all on first evening.
Showers worked second day and were lovely and hot.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your review, Jenny. We’re so pleased to hear you loved the bell tents, found the beds comfortable, and enjoyed the location by the lake. It’s great to know you’d like to return.

We really appreciate your honest feedback regarding the showers and facilities. Unfortunately, we experienced unexpected issues with the showers during our very first opening weekend, and while we were working hard behind the scenes to resolve them, we completely understand that clearer communication on site would have made a big difference to guests. Your comments have been really helpful and this is something we’ll improve going forward.

We also appreciate the suggestions regarding additional washing-up facilities and separate lake entry for bell tent guests during busy periods, and we’ll certainly take these ideas into consideration as we continue developing the site experience.

Thank you again for staying with us and we hope to welcome you back again soon.

Great place to camp with stunning lake for water activities

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
7
Value for money
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
7
Rob F. 1 review

Non-electric grass pitch

Liked Great sizes tent pitches, great toilet and shower facilities and a place to wash dishes.

Also had plenty of land to walk your dog!

The lake is stunning and water obstacle course was amazing fun. Myself and my 7 year old daughter took part.

Disliked Camp site has very busy road running along side it - was quite loud throughout the entire night.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for your lovely review, Rob. We’re so pleased to hear you and your daughter had such a great time enjoying the lake and obstacle course together. It’s fantastic to know you enjoyed the spacious pitches, facilities and the surrounding space for dog walks too.

We also appreciate your comments regarding the nearby road noise. Whilst this is unfortunately outside of our control, we do understand it may affect lighter sleepers and appreciate you mentioning it for future guests to be aware of.

Thank you again for sharing your experience and photos, we hope to welcome you and your family back again soon.


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site cafe On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports Wild swimming

Amenities on site

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Picnic table Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Tents for hire Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Indoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Alderford Lake

Tilstock Road

Whitchurch

Shropshire

England

SY13 3JQ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

52.95212°N
2.67951°W

Nearest transport

Coach
10.4 mi Bus Station
14.1 mi Bus Station
14.8 mi Bus Station
Rail
1.1 mi Whitchurch (Shrops) Rail Station
3.7 mi Prees Rail Station
5.8 mi Wrenbury Rail Station
Airport
27.6 mi Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Alderford Lake is a good base for checking out gardens and canals, meres and mosses, and city days out in celebrated Chester and Shrewsbury. Whitchurch, an easy mile away, is the starting point for miles (and miles) of long-distance walking trails (the town was founded by a Mr Julius Caesar and once lay on the main Roman road between Chester and Wroxeter). Five trails start from Whitchurch's Jubilee Park, including the 34 miles of the Sandstone Trail starting and ending in Whitchurch, and the Shropshire Way, which crosses the England/Wales border (several shorter trails run around the town too). Northern Shropshire is canal land: cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal onto Market Drayton, or stay close to home to drift on the Llangollen Canal around Whitchurch and on to the market town of Ellesmere. The Meres and Mosses peat bog landscape, filled with rare wildlife, is in the region too for nature spotting and more hiking. Also have a wander around Hawkstone Park (15 minutes' drive), a 400-acre site famed mainly for its follies of caves, cliffs and medieval castle ruins, and Cholmondeley Castle Gardens over the border in Cheshire with its 50 acres of ornamental gardens, aviary, deer park mere, and African pygmy goats, llamas and alpacas.

Must see

Cheshire Military Museum 18.4 mi

Chester Castle 18.5 mi

Chester Cathedral 18.8 mi

Delamere Forest 19.1 mi

The Trentham Estate 19.8 mi

National Trust

Chirk Castle 17.2 mi

Attingham Park 18.5 mi

Sunnycroft 19 mi

Attingham Park Estate: Cronkhill 19.6 mi

Biddulph Grange Garden 24.7 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

The Sandstone Trail S to N (Part 1): Whitchurch - Bickerton 1.3 mi

COMBERMERE ABBEY 3.9 mi

Malpas and Tushingham 5.9 mi

Aston - Wrenbury - Aston 6.1 mi

HAWKSTONE 6.7 mi

Local events

  • Shrewsbury Folk Festival (Friday, 28 August 2026 – Friday, 28 August 2026)

    Shrewsbury, Shropshire 16.7 mi

  • Creamfields (Thursday, 27 August 2026 – Thursday, 27 August 2026)

    Warrington, Cheshire 26.3 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Shropshire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Alderford Lake have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Alderford Lake dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Alderford Lake? Alderford Lake is a good base for checking out gardens and canals, meres and mosses, and city days out in celebrated Chester and Shrewsbury. Whitchurch, an easy mile away, is the starting … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Alderford Lake?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  5:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  5 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Alderford Lake? From £25 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.