The venue’s story
About Court Farm Lakes
A four-acre natural site outside Lydney: a swimming lake, a lakeside sauna, a café, and a friendly community that swims all year.
Court Farm Lakes opened in 2023, when Jo York and Nix Barnaville turned a corner of the Lydney countryside into a place to swim. The lake sits at the heart of a four-acre natural site in Gloucestershire, with a sauna on the bank and a café that fills with laughter after the morning dip.
What we do
Open-water swimming and paddleboarding on the lake, Swim & Sauna sessions, classes in the cabin, community groups, and events through the year: full-moon swims, sound baths and suppers. Whether you are trying cold water for the first time or you swim every week, you will find a genuinely friendly, inclusive community here.
How it works
Every session is pre-booked with numbers capped — the lake holds 30 people at a time and the sauna 12 — so the water never feels busy. New to the lake? Start with a Test the Water session for a tour and a swim. Then choose from the passes and memberships and book from the calendar.
Practicalities
There is a car park next to the café and an undercover changing area. Tow floats are mandatory in the water and available to hire, along with wetsuits. Dogs are welcome on a lead around the café. Please keep to 5 mph on the track through the farm.
The practical detail is in the FAQs.