🚗 Lymm Dam Car Park – Complete WA13 0AP Guide
Free scenic parking at Lymm Dam – waterside walks, café & picnic spots.
🚗 Type: Surface Free Public Car Park (Managed by Warrington Borough Council)
🕒 Open: Dawn–Dusk (approx. 6 am–8 pm in summer; 8 am–4 pm in winter)
🌟 Rating: 4.8 / 5 (visitor feedback)
💰 Pricing & Permits
Cost: Free for up to 3 h (no ticket or permit)
Overstay: Informal ranger patrols; please vacate promptly to allow turnover
Blue Badge Holders: Free unlimited (badge displayed)
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | ~70 marked bays |
| Disabled Bays | 4 bays closest to the visitor centre entrance |
| Surface | Compacted gravel with painted bay markers |
| Lighting | None (daylight use only) |
| Security | Occasional park ranger patrols; no CCTV |
| Entry/Exit | Unbarriered, single access off Dam Lane |
♿ Accessibility
Step-Free Access: Firm, level path from bays to visitor centre, café, and toilet block
Accessible Routes: Tactile paving and dropped kerbs to key viewpoints and picnic areas
Drop-Off Zone: Lay-by adjacent to car park entrance for quick loading/unloading
🔌 EV Infrastructure
On-Site Chargers: None
Nearest Public Chargers:
2 × 7 kW Pod Point at Lymm Village Hall Car Park (0.5 mi / 3 min drive)
4 × 22 kW Ubitricity lampposts on Warrington Road (0.8 mi / 5 min drive)
📅 Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday mornings | 40 % | Dog walkers & joggers |
| Weekday afternoons | 50 % | Families at playground & café |
| Weekends 10 am–4 pm | 100 % | Tourists & picnic groups |
| Evenings (summer) | 60 % | Sunset photographers |
Pro Tip: Arrive before 10 am on weekends to grab bays closest to the lakeside boardwalk.
🚶 Walkability Score
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Lymm Dam Visitor Centre & Café | 1 min | Refreshments, restrooms & information |
| Lakeside Boardwalk Loop | 2 min | 1.5 km circular trail with viewpoints |
| Children’s Play Area & Picnic | 3 min | Tables, benches & play equipment |
| Buttermarket & Lymm Village | 15 min | Shops, pubs & historic architecture |
⚠️ Important Notices
Seasonal Closing: Gates lock at dusk—no overnight stays.
No Lighting: All paths unlit after dark; exit by closing time.
Event Days: Lymm Heritage Festival (May) may fill car park by 8 am—overflow available at Village Hall.
Wildlife Protection: Stay on marked trails; do not feed waterfowl.
📌 Expert Tips
Birdwatching: Early spring dawn visits yield sightings of warblers and marsh terns.
Kayak Launch: Use lower dam access point (2 min walk) for canoe/kayak entry—permit via café.
Picnic Prep: Pre-order picnic hampers from café to pick up on arrival.
Cycle In: National Cycle Network Route 558 runs beside car park—secure bikes at racks by visitor centre.
🔮 Future Developments
Late 2025: Installation of 4 × 7 kW solar-powered EV chargers in overflow lay-by.
2026: Real-time occupancy signage at Dam Lane entrance for traffic guidance.
2027: Construction of a “Fen Edge Pavilion” with sheltered seating and interpretive displays.
Own or work here? Claim Now! Claim Now!
