A new item for your bucket list

Otby Lake Boat House is now fully up and running and the response has been amazing. The feedback from guests has been so much more than we ever expected.

The Bucket List Item You Never Knew You Needed…

It’s been far too long since our last blog post and we have skipped past the final days of building to the finished Boat House — but with good reason! The opening of Otby Lake Boat House has kept us incredibly busy through our very first Spring and Summer season.

Now that Winter is settling in, things are slowing down just enough to let us reflect, make a few tweaks, and give some extra TLC to the little details that matter most.

We’ve been completely blown away by the response to the Boat House. What started as a dream has become a reality we’re incredibly proud to share. The feedback from our guests has been more than we ever imagined — not just kind words, but genuine stories of how time spent here has helped them truly reset.

We often hear how a stay at Otby Lake goes beyond a relaxing break — guests talk about the mental health benefits of switching off, reconnecting with nature, and simply being. No screens, no schedules — just the sound of birds, wind in the trees, and water gently lapping at the shore. These are the moments that can’t be planned — they just happen, thanks to the peaceful, beautiful location we’re lucky to call home.

So, if you’re ready for your own reset, you know where to find us.

We’re excited to welcome more guests through the rest of the year and continue growing and improving everything the Boat House has to offer.

Building is such a messy process! Its amazing how we move from piles of rubble and tangles of electrical cables to the shiny finished product. Our vision, to create a memorable site for a holiday totally away from it all with touches of rustic mixed in with elements of luxury is definitely coming together.

We are firmly in the messy stage at the moment but getting tantalising glimpses of how the building is going to sit in the landscape once we are finished.

Once the extension steels were up it was clear that the original block work was a little wonkier than we had hoped, and so for a while we had a little less Boat House than we started with, as the existing walls came down to floor level. Once that section came down the timber structure has come together very quickly giving rise to a brand-new building. The space we have created is bigger than we anticipated allowing plenty of room for living and moving around. As the builders continue to do a fantastic job, insulating every inch of the building to make sure guests stay nice and warm, we have started to make exciting internal design decisions. Most excitingly commissioning a huge bespoke oak framed bed to be created by @whitehouse_joiner_and_maker to make sure guests have the best nights sleep in these amazing surroundings. Log burners have been selected and the kitchen area commissioned!

There is still someway to go and as with every project we are problem solving as we go. The latest ‘additional’ project comes in the form of a very functional store cupboard to hide the boring electricals and functional side of the building. And slightly more exciting the addition of an outside shower to wash off the lake water should guests fancy a swim!

The next phase will be the cladding and the installation of the solar panels which will add to the off grid experience of a stay at The Boat House!

Things must look worse before they get better.

In order to document our latest project we are going to create a blog series to showcase the progress of our Boat House renovations and bring new and old guests along for the ride.

Having stood the test of time the current Boat House, which was built by Great Aunt Tim and Great Uncle Rex in 1962, holds a huge amount of sentimentality for the family. Its such a unique spot and so the renovations come with the added pressure of ‘doing the right thing’ to keep the integrity of the original building whilst updating it to create a modern, beautiful space for guests to stay.

As happens with all projects, it was decided that the patio area, which has previously been used for shoot parties and fisherman to sit and take in the views, needed a face lift before we blocked off access with an extension to the Boat House. So, in the pouring February rain we took up the existing patio slabs and started the creation of what has turned out to be the most fantastic structure. I say structure because we are still arguing about what to call it, patio isn’t right, pagoda? Maybe our guests will help us to decide! Luckily the weather improved enabling the builders to erect the larch legs and create an amazing fireplace that gives the space another dimension. Think roasting marshmallows or grilling a steak our vision is that guests will be able to use the space come rain or shine to enjoy the lake views. As an added bonus and on a good day you can just make out the outline of Lincoln Cathedral many miles away.

Meanwhile the Boat House renovation didn’t get off to the greatest start. Having lowered the water at the lake in February we finally poured concrete for the foundations in July. For those of you that know Otby Lake you can well imagine the tension on site as a full concrete lorry made its way down the steep hill to make its pour. We are happy to report that it went without a hitch and the lads from Optima created the extension foundations within hours. Next followed the steel structure that forms the base of the extension and will eventually be the bedroom and bathroom of the luxury Boat House.

Currently, there’s a little bitless Boat House than there was when we started but the scaffold is up and the builders are starting work on building the timber structure, that will be the new accommodation. Whilst they crack on we are busy researching and making decisions on what the interiors are going to look like. It all feels like its finally starting to come together.

The Boat House has stood unchanged since 1962. The time has come for this lake-side building, the site of many Cooper family celebrations, to enjoy a new lease of life. Here, we’ll be keeping you up-to-date with all the renovation work as we work to create a luxury self-catered accommodation that allows guests to soak up the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings, in line with our plans for further diversification.

Originally dammed in the early 1960s by the Cooper family, a move that was motivated by the family’s vision to see a six-acre lake created in the valley, the lake was established as a private fishery for the family to retreat to in the summer months as well as for private family parties and quiet evenings by the water. 

An early diversification project, the fly-fishing began to contribute towards the costs of maintaining the lake with the first syndicate group being set up in the 1990s. Its popularity grew and operations subsequently developed into Otby offering a day ticket fishery, which in turn gently grew in popularity.

Today, the lake is regularly stocked with brown and rainbow trout, with the aim of keeping the lake as the dry-fly fishery envisaged by previous generations of the Cooper family. That said, the future of The Boat House and the idea to turn it into a unique accommodation offering has long been talked about around the family table.

It has stood relatively unchanged since 1962, and the time has finally come for The Boat House to enjoy a new lease of life as the family’s plans for further diversification continue. 

With planning now having been secured, and an exciting scheme of work drawn up by local architects, we’ll be creating luxury self-catered accommodation that allows guests to soak up the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings. 

Taking inspiration from the original building and expanding it to double the size, when work has been completed guests will be able to enjoy a spacious living area and a bedroom. Think lazy mornings looking out over the lake, and cosy nights on the balcony area, spent dining on pizza from the brick oven and toasting marshmallows over the fire as the sun goes down.

We are really excited to see this area come to life and share it with new guests.

*Working side-by-side, the new accommodation will complement the trout fishery which will reopen once all building work has been completed.