Thorpeness Meare
The Meare, Thorpeness, IP16 4NW
Website MapEnjoy time out on the water at a boating lake like no other. Amidst the wide range of dinghies, kayaks, large family rowing boats, canoes, punts and sailing boats for hire, there are many original boats from the Meare’s earliest days back in 1913. Home to Thorpeness Regatta (August), and its after-party featuring decorated boats and fireworks.
Covering over 40 acres, the pleasure lake is dotted with islands and is surrounded by 60 acres of countryside. The islands and the waterways between them were each named by children’s author, J.M Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan who was a firm friend of Stuart Glencairn Ogilvie who created the Edwardian holiday village of Thorpeness.
Children of all ages love taking boats out to explore them all from ‘Peggoty’s House’ to ‘The Fort’ or the ‘Dragon’s Lair’ and one of the great attractions of the Meare is that it is very shallow ( up to only 3 feet deep), providing an ideal boating environment for families.
Nature-lovers will enjoy following the the waterways to the quieter, more wooded part of the lake to sight a wider range of birdlife than the ducks and swans by the paths and boathouse. Species to look out for include Mute swan; Mallard, Teal, Shoveler ducks; Gadwall; Grebe; Gooseanders; even Osprey.
