RUDYARD LAKE STEAM RAILWAY

Rudyard Lake

HISTORY

Rudyard lake has been a centre for leisure activities for well over 100 years. The lake was built in 1797 to provide water for the canal system and is strictly a reservoir rather than a lake. The name Rudyard came from Ralph Rudyard who is alleged to have killed Richard III. The lake gave its name to Rudyard Kipling whose parents first met at a party by its shores and had such a particular love for it that they named their child after it.

The Lake was developed by the North Staffordshire Railway Company as a leisure destination for the Potteries, Midlands and North West. Enormous numbers of visitors were carried to and from the small station at Rudyard with 88 trains and 20,253 passengers alone in one day in June 1913.  The lake had two stations one in Rudyard village( Rudyard ) and one at Cliffe Park at the North end of the lake. This mainly served a golf course built by the railway. The golf course reverted to farm land as long ago as 1926. Footpaths run right round the lake and along the old railway track bed next to the existing narrow gauge railway.

The best way to see the lake is to take a trip along the narrow gauge steam railway which runs alongside the East shore before terminating alongside the lake at Hunthouse Wood opposite the Rudyard sailing club. The lake is superbly situated in a steep wooded valley at its South end. At the Northern end the valley opens out into wonderful rolling countryside and its easy to see why Rudyard Kipling's parents were so attracted to it and why it has been so popular as a day trip destination for so long.

The view from the Dam looking North

The water level in the lake rises in winter and falls significantly during the summer due to the demands from the need to fill the locks in the canal system. The lake is one of the longest straight lakes in England and is becoming important as a centre for rowing.  Power boats are not normally seen on the lake unless powered by steam or electricity.

The lake is in the Peak District and is very easy to get to for visitors from Staffordshire, Cheshire, the North West and Midlands. Its located between Leek, Congleton and Macclesfield.  Take the A523 for 2 miles North of Leek and turn onto the B5331 to the free car park at Rudyard station. Click on this link to a Map.

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS

The lake provides an ideal location for boating, bird watching, fishing, sailing and walking. Rowing boats are available for hire in the Summer along with the sale of fishing permits. Refreshments are available at the cafe at the Dam head 200 yards from the Dam Station. The Hotel Rudyard is located near the Dam head and serves a full range of meals and refreshments as well as providing overnight accommodation.  A picnic area is available at Rudyard Station .  A new Activity Centre building was constructed in 2004 to improve the the catering and provision for boating. A particular aim is to provide facilities for the disabled to enjoy access to the water. This work won a national award for excellence in 2006. Santa also visits the lake on Sundays in December click here for more information.

The path to the lake on 20 December 2009

New visitor centre and toilets opened at the Dam in early 2000. The visitor centre tells the story of the lake and its surroundings and is well worth a visit. The steam boat The Lady Alice sometimes offered trips along the lake. It returned to the lake after restoration in late April 2002 and was is in service on Sundays in summerfor several years. A new attraction is a the ex naval cutter launch Honey built in 1942. This will be offering cruises along the lake most weekends. A new landing stage was in use from 2003 and greatly improved facilities for boating on the lake.

A new Lake activity Centre building to house an improved cafe, offices, boating facilities etc opened in Summer 2004. This can be booked for conferences meetings, private parties etc.

The old Earl of Macclesfield boathouse near the Dam Station has been renovated and reopened in March 2009. This shows the history of boating on the lake and is designed to be eco friendly. It has thousands of new oak shingles on the roof.

Rowing boats and the new visitor centres are located at the Dam head

THE RUDYARD NAVY

The lake is unusual in that it has its own navy which can be seen regularly on patrol. Current strength is a frigate, a battleship and hunter killer submarine. These unusual and very realistic ships are the work of a Macclesfield boat builder. With a crew of one or two they can be seen sometimes when on their irregular patrols.

Battleship King George V on patrol

The submarine in particular can seem spooky as it silently makes its way up and down the lake.  Click here to go to their website for more information

Hunter Killer Submarine heads up the lake

FRIENDS OF THE LAKE

The Lake has an active group of Friends of the Lake who work to care for it and promote its attractions. They welcome new members and can be contacted on 01260 299442. The Lake Ranger can be contacted on 01538 306280 Their webpage on the lake is well worth visiting click here to access it.

The Friends of the Lake run a very popular Lake Festival on a Sunday each summer. It was held on August 3rd 2008. The 2009 date was August 2nd.

The lake is very popular with fishermen and fishing matches take place on most Saturdays and Sundays all year round. Permits can be obtained from the lake warden.

The Rudyard Sailing Club is located on the West side of the Lake. Their website is on the links page. Their boats are in action on most weekends.

The Rudyard Vale Caravan Park is also located nearby Tel/Fax 01538 306398 for information.

FURTHER INFORMATION( click on buttons below)

or Contact us by telephone 01538 306704 or fax on 01995 672280

or emaiI info@rlsr.org