Calvert Trust Water Centre

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, close to the Forestry Commission site Dodd Wood, you will find the Calvert Trust. Opened in 1978, this unique outdoor adventure centre was created to provide a place where people with disabilities could experience everything the countryside has to offer. Housed within the site, the trust’s Water Centre is not only open to visiting residents of the site, it is also open to members of the public, regardless of ability. Here you can experience a different type of swimming, thanks to the combination of special sensory equipment with water.

Sensory Indoor Pool

The Water Centre was opened in 2011 with state of the art technology. As the Trust’s mission is to make activities as accessible as possible, the pool has a range of features to enhance accessibility. This includes a moveable floor, stepped entry with railings, and a poolside hoist with multiple options for entry.

The pool is 12m long and 6m wide. It is heated to 33 degrees, making it ideal for hydrotherapy. There are bubble pads with poolside button controls, and audio equipment above and below the water, lights above and below the water, and a projector. A computer can use the various audio-visual equipment to create a sensory experience based on one of several themes, including “on the beach” and “in the jungle”.

There is no lifeguard at the pool, and therefore, new users must have at least one member of their party who has attended an induction talk, lasting 20-minutes. There are two large accessible changing rooms with showers.

The pool is open to everyone, but due to the small size of the pool you must book your swim in advance to ensure that maximum numbers are not exceeded. Sessions are one hour long. You can also hire the centre privately for one hour, costing £82.

Other Features

Adjacent to the pool you will find a sauna that you can use as part of your swim session. In addition to the pool and sauna room, the Water Centre is also home to a sensory room that includes bubble tube lights and soft play equipment. Sessions in the sensory room cost just 50p for half an hour per person.

There are no café facilities at the Water Centre, however, less than half a mile along the A591 you will find Dodd Wood and the Old Sawmill Tea Room, which is a popular walking area.

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