Cotswold Water Park changes name to Cotswold Lakes
The change is set to avoid confusion and highlight the landscape
The iconic Cotswold Water Park is undergoing a name change to Cotswold Lakes.
The new name is set to highlight the natural landscape and give more of an identity to what the destination is.
The name will also help clear up confusion among visitors who arrive expecting to see attractions like waterslides.
Matthew Millett, development director at the Cotswolds Lakes Trust told Greatest Hits Radio: “The old name Cotswold Water Park has been with us for many years and we found it tends to create a lot of confusion with the people who visit the area as to what it’s all about.
“People arrive thinking it’s a single destination with maybe something like water slides, so when we say to them that it’s actually over 100 lakes that’s nationally and internationally important for wildlife, it’s something a bit different.
“So, we found that a name change to Cotswold Lakes better sums us up”.
The Cotswold Lakes span from Swindon to Cirencester and is home to over 180 lakes across the 42 square miles.
Visitors to the area can enjoy a range of activities from kayaking and paddleboarding to rally experiences and nature walks.
The new name is set to enable all businesses in the area to get together under one banner and highlight the Cotswold Lakes’ three main values: tranquillity, nature and adventure.
“What we want to emphasize is that there’s actually a really wide range of discoveries out there”, explained Nick Hunt, owner of Cotswold Lakes Brew Co.
“There are some amazing tranquil spots – discover tranquillity.
“There is some incredible wildlife that we see here. A large part of the lakes is now a site of special scientific interest – discover nature.
“And then – discover adventure is our last one. There are so many fun things to do. We can do everything from pink flamingos on the River Thames all the way through to rally cars by the side of the A419”.
All the businesses rebranded over the course of March and so far, it has given them a much-needed boost.
“We’ve seen some added interest since the name change was announced at the start of March. And I was just talking to a colleague from another local business and he was just saying that they’ve noticed a significant change in traffic through their Facebook and Instagram pages which they believe is directly connected to the fact that they’ve been connected to the Cotswold Lakes campaign.
“It is a though time for business generally and for small businesses especially, but it can only be a positive with the new brand. Everyone’s very excited about that stronger sense of community, a single logo and a single brand for us all to get behind”, said Mr. Hunt.
While the old Cotswold Water Park website can still be accessed, focus will shift to the new Cotswold Lakes site over time.
It can be found under www.cotswoldlakes.com.