Sywell Country Park
A couple of miles from Mears Ashby, Sywell Country Park is a lovely setting around an old reservoir providing a home to many species of wildfowl, butterflies, flora and fauna. Maintained by donations and grants this is a classic example of providing a natural “green” leisure area It is to some extent a hidden treasure with a bracing walk around the perimeter enough exercise to make Sunday lunch a veritable treat.
Pitsford Water
About 4 miles from Mears Ashby, reached via our close-neigbour villages of Sywell and Holcot, lies the large water expanse of Pitsford Water. This 700-acre reservoir servives much of the water demands of Northamptonshire, but is also a wonderful family-orientated recreation centre for walkers, cyclists, bird-watchers and fishermen. At the western end of the water lies the main visitor centre and sailing club. Mountain bikes can be hired here for the 7-mile cycle on a well-maintained gravel track around the water. Near the eastern end (before the causeway) is the fishing lodge where day-tickets or season-tickets can be purchased for the excellent trout fishing (fly-fishing only) from the banks or from hired boats. The reservoir is stocked weekly between spring and late-summer with rainbow trout. Also in early-autumn, pike-fishing is available from the boats. To the east of the causeway is a restricted-access bird sanctuary. Permits are available for visitors.