Croft Farm Water Park

Croft Farm Water Park is a resort destination situated just outside Tewkesbury. With its own lake, watersports activities and tuition, luxury lodges, caravan and camping, it is perfect for an activity-based family holiday or simply a great day out.

Croft Farm was bought by the Newell family back in the 1960’s and was an intensive vegetable holding growing a range of summer and winter crops. In the 1970’s a minerals company got planning permission to extract sand and gravel, eventually leaving the site in the mid 1990’s. Part of the restoration programme was to leave a lake that might possibly be used for recreation. Alan Newell completed a 5 day windsurf instructor course and bought half a dozen windsurfing boards. Further investment was made in a couple of small portable buildings, a camping stove to make cups of tea for the customers and Croft Farm Water Park was in business!

A small toilet and shower block was built and then a larger investment in the gym building. After that came the log cabin club house and more recently the new and much improved water sports centre. Tom used to be employed as the water sports manager but now runs the business as his own. From the original one person as an instructor there can be as many as 30 employed and over 200 children receiving instruction at the same time. During term time we have numerous primary schools visiting for an activity holiday where we provide the activities, accommodation and all catering.

The latest development is the luxury lodge holiday village.
The first lodges were sited in June 2017 and it was decided to partner with Hoseasons to market the lodges for rent. This has been a great success even throughout the quieter winter months. Most of the bases are now occupied with more lodges arriving this year. Eventually the village will have 30 lodges in total with a mix of privately owned and rental units.

Martin and his wife Alex manage the business now that Alan has retired.

Our RYA recognised school and modern hire fleet have established Croft Farm as a well-known water sports centre since we opened in 1985. Originally concentrating on windsurfing but now providing a range of activities including the increasingly popular Stand Up Paddleboarding.

Our lake is an ideal size for teaching – not so big to intimidate children but still large enough to provide enjoyment on windy days for the more experienced sailor or windsurfer. Launching and recovery is easy from both sides of the lake and the wind is good from most directions.

We have spacious on-shore facilities dedicated to the water sports enthusiast with changing rooms, toilets and showers our water sports shop, together with a wet classroom and a larger function room able to accommodate private parties of up to 70.

We are a Royal Yachting Association Training Centre for windsurfing, sailing and power boating offering courses for adults and juniors. We also offer kayaking, canoeing, katakanuing and raft building together with some land based activities. We teach on an individual basis, in family groups and we have considerable experience teaching to larger organisations and schools.

We can offer a fully catered package of activities for a weekend or longer with all meals provided and accommodation in camping pods or tents.

As an RYA training and AALA recognised centre we are assessed annually to ensure the facilities, equipment and instruction meet the required standards. We actively encourage you to take lessons. Our courses represent very good value for money with the confidence that you are being taught by a qualified instructor in a safe environment.

Tuition sessions normally run from 10am or 1pm every day (we are also very happy to run evening and early morning sessions if you need). Just email us with a start time and date and we will confirm.

Participants are provided with a buoyancy aid and if required a wet suit , helmet. All participants are asked to provide their own shoes for the water and good to bring some clothes that you don’t mind getting wet ! (You would normally wear a pair of swim shorts or swim costume under a wet suit – so these are good to bring with you). Toilets and showers are available for watersports customers.