Open water swimming fans, it’s time to get excited. Two of the biggest and most glorious bits of open water in Wales, the Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs in Cardiff, are about to return to their former glory and reopen as visitor attractions.
From Friday July 28 visitors will be able to descend on the 110-acre landmark to enjoy open water swimming, canoeing, paddle-boarding and kayaking. They’ll also be able to take a stroll through five kilometres of paths and woodland surrounding the water.
On top of that, there’s also a two-storey visitor centre from which you can take in spectacular views of the reservoirs, plus a cafe and a restaurant that’s due to open in September and promises the finest Welsh produce.
These reservoirs’ comeback has been seven years in the making, with Welsh Water joining forces with partners and local communities to bring them back into operational use. It is hoped that they will offer an ‘oasis of calm’ within the Welsh capital.
Built in the nineteenth century, the reservoirs were once popular for sailing, fishing and walking. However in 2001 they were fenced off and drained by Western Power Distribution, who hoped to build 300 homes on the site. Reservoir Action Group (RAG) campaigned to save the attraction from housing development and Welsh Water eventually stepped in to safeguard it from future purchase in 2016.
Julie Morgan, member of the Senedd for Cardiff North, said: ‘After a long and united community effort for the last 20-plus years, it is fantastic that Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs are back in operation. I have been involved in the fight to save the reservoirs since the beginning as I firmly believe that they should be open and available for all to use and enjoy... I’m looking forward to seeing the reservoirs become a thriving community space.’
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