Horseshoe Lake | The Carp Society, Gloucestershire

About This Venue

Horseshoe Lake is a landmark venue in UK carp fishing history, intrinsically linked with The Carp Society, which has owned the site since 1992. Located in the Cotswold Water Park near Lechlade, Gloucestershire, this 62-acre former gravel pit is renowned for its rich heritage, challenging angling, and significant stock of large, characterful carp. The lake’s name is derived from its distinct U-shape, which creates a vast and varied aquatic environment for both fish and anglers. The topography is classic gravel pit, featuring a complex underwater landscape of gravel bars, plateaus, deep silty channels, and shallow, weedy bays. Depths fluctuate significantly, from as little as 2-3 feet in the margins and on top of the bars to over 14 feet in the deeper central areas, with an average depth of around 8-10 feet. This variation provides a multitude of angling situations, from close-in margin stalking to extreme-range casting.

Quick Facts

Lake Name

Horseshoe Lake

Type

club-water

Established

1992

Size

62 acres

Swims

Average Depth

8-10 ft

Total Stock

900 carp

Average Weight

21 lb

📍 Location

Address:
Burford Road
Lechlade, Gloucestershire
GL7 3QQ
UK

Google Maps: View on Google Maps

What3Words: https://w3w.co/tramps.strapping.dished

Region: South West

Nearest Motorway: M4 (Junction 15) - Approx 12 miles

📞 Contact

Phone: 01367 253959

Bailiff: 07814 258897

Email: info@thecarpsociety.com

Website: https://www.thecarpsociety.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thecarpsociety

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheCarpSociety/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCarpSociety

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCarpSociety

💰 Pricing

🎣 Day Tickets

1-3 Rods: None

⏰ Sessions

12 Hour: None
24 Hour: £30.00 (Members Only)
48 Hour: £60.00 (Members Only)

🎟️ Concessions

Junior: Yes, junior membership is £10 (ages 5-15). Juniors get 50% off a permit bought with an adult permit.
OAP: Yes, concessions on membership for over 65s.
Disabled: Yes, concessions on membership.

💳 Payment & Info

Payment Methods: Card
Currency: GBP
Last Updated: 2026-10-30
Special Offer: Annual permits for members: £650 full access, £500 weekday (10am Monday to 10am Friday). Pike-only permit £160 (1 November to 1 March).

📅 Booking Information

Booking Policy

Advanced Booking: No. Swims cannot be booked. Carp Society members buy day tickets on arrival during office hours, and permit holders access the lake with a gate card.
Exclusive Bookings: No

Opening Times

Hours: Day ticket arrivals during office hours only: 1 April to 31 October, Monday to Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday 9am-12 midday; 1 November to 31 March, Monday to Friday 9am-3pm. No Sunday arrivals. Permit holders have access at any time, except event and spawning closures.
Maximum Stay: 96 hours in one swim, or 7 nights in a green post swim.

🐟 Stock Information

📊 Stock Breakdown

Total Carp: 900
Doubles: 200
Twenties: 500
Thirties: 150
Forties: 10

🐠 Other Species

Bream: Yes
Pike: Yes
Tench: Yes
Silvers: Yes

🗺️ Lake Features

Topography

Yes, classic gravel pit with bars, plateaus, gullies, and silty areas.

Natural Features

Islands
Reed Beds

Underwater Features

Snags — Yes, in some marginal areas.
Gravel Bars
Plateaus
Depth range: 2 ft - 14 ft

Weed Information

Weed Present: Yes

ℹ️ Additional Information

Access & Swims

Access: Good. A stone track runs around the majority of the lake, allowing vehicle access for unloading in designated areas. Barrowing is required for some swims.
Disabled Swims: Yes, several swims are designed for disabled access.
Double Swims: Yes
Adjacent Swims: Yes

Angler Information

Suitable for: campaign angler, intermediate, long session angler, social angler, specimen hunter
Difficulty: 4 target
Gates Locked: Yes. Day ticket anglers use the intercom at the gate; permit holders use an access card.
Drinking Water: Yes

🏢 Facilities

✓ Toilets

✓ Showers

✓ Tackle Shop

✓ Food On-site

✓ Takeaway

7 Security /10

6 Mobile /10

✓ WiFi

✗ Electric

📋 Rules & Regulations

General Rules

All anglers must be members of The Carp Society. Day tickets are bought on arrival during office hours. A full and current list of rules is available on the official website and must be adhered to at all times. No dogs.

Conduct

Respect other anglers. No excessive noise or antisocial behaviour. Alcohol in moderation. No open fires.

Fish Care

Landing net of at least 90cm arms. Well-padded unhooking mats with rigid walled sides, suitable for a 40lb+ fish, are mandatory. Ten minutes from net to release is the benchmark, with fish out of the water for no longer than 5 minutes. Propolis-style carp care kits must be carried and used. No sacking of fish.

Tackle & Rigs

Two rods on day tickets; a single angler in a red or white post swim may fish three from 1 November to 31 March. Season permit holders may fish three rods alone in double swims and in Winter Bay swims 9-45. Barbless hooks only; no crushed barbs or long shank hooks. No fixed leads; all lead systems must safely discharge the lead. No lead core, braided mainlines or shock/carp leaders on baited rods. Minimum 15lb breaking strain monofilament mainline.

Compliance

Members must carry their membership card and photo ID. Random checks of permits, licences, rigs and bait may be carried out by bailiffs. A second rule infringement means being asked to leave the lake immediately.

Bait Rules

No nuts of any kind. No shelf-life boilies to be used as loose feed. Particles must be correctly prepared. Maggots are permitted in winter months (check specific dates). No live baiting.