Pugney’s Country Park

What a great find!
Pugney’s is just off Jn 39 on the M1 and it has a big lake where you can hire canoes, kayaks, dinghies, windsurfers and even pedaloes. Around the outside of the lake you can take a small train ride (for the younger children), there is an activity park (no swings and slides though) and even places built specifically for bird watching.
Today I went on a pedalo with my two children. It only cost £6 for the three of us and it gave my legs some much needed exercise having to do the pedalling for all three of us! Afterwards my eldest went on a kayak (only £3.70), he had never been on one by himself before but he quickly picked it up and really enjoyed himself.
The café sells paninis, jacket potatoes and sandwiches all at reasonable prices and there are two ice-​cream vans ouside. There are also benches outside for people who want to bring their own food.
The best thing of all is that there is no gift shop so my children can’t pester me to buy them something!
Pugney’s is overlooked by Sandal Castle and this is only about three minutes drive away and well worth a visit afterwards!

Pugneys water park is a really nice place to visit wether its a quick coffee and sandwich while overlooking the amazing lake, a long afternoon walk watching the wildlife on the lake or in the woods, or a fun filled day out for all the family in summer. The views are incredible with Sandal Castle in the distance. Accessability is easy from all major roads in wakefield and a mile or so of the motorway junction of the M1. Throughout the evenings and the winter the water park is extremely popular with Bird watchers with sightings of very rare birds. Hot summer days are the most popular with families and if you dont get there early it can be a struggle to park. The park has a full range of water sports from canoeing to windsurfing and there are full wetsuit facilities onsite. If its a bite to eat and a drink the restaurant serves really nice food at reasonable cost.

I visit this place every day to take my dogs for a walk — lovely area — you can hire a canoe or a windsurf board and have some fun in the water. A huge parking area is available but I am sure you have to pay now if you stay longer than an hour. Plenty of dog walkers are there at all times of day so if you are not keen on dogs this isnt the place for you. There are swans in the lake too and on a hot sunny day its a beautiful pleace to be. There are some benches dotted around the lake too, poo bins and rubbish bins are also dotted around.

My main memory of Pugney’s country park is of dropping my Thornton’s turkish delight bar in there when I was about eleven, and being grudging and outraged for the rest of the walk. I suppose that wasn’t ‘Puggy’s’ fault!
In spite of that, it’s an attractive local spot and attracts all the water sports enthusiasts and a horde of waterfowl, is a nice spot for a walk and handy for Sandal Castle. (Also known as the spot where the Grand Old Duke of York marched his ten thousand men, up, down and half-​way). It is however a bit short of public conveniences and eateries, which might increase tourism in the spot. Just a thought!

We used to go here a lot when I was a kid, it’s good for family days out, especially if it’s nice weather — take a picnic, walk round the lake, then rent some canoes or windsurfs. The water is full of algae now though, so I don’t recommend swimming, although I’m sure it’s still safe! It’s well staffed and there are speedboats to assist in an emergency. You can also hire wetsuits and other gear which is useful in cold weather, and there are nice, clean changing rooms and toilets in the same building as the very reasonably priced café!

Lovely open park with 2 lakes. The smaller is a wildlife reserve, whilst the big is available for watersports. The walk round the lake is 1.6 miles and flat. Details of the watersports available can be found at