Siblyback Lake Unofficial Guide

 In 2012, at a reported cost of £300,000, a Full Cable Wakeboarding System was installed in the South-Eastern end of Siblyback Lake. It was unusual in that it was the only Clockwise system in the UK. It was publicised as having, "brand new changing facilities, onsite car parking and a fully equipped campsite". Prior to the installation, there was some opposition to the wakeboarding cable as existing windsurfers and sailors felt that it took up too much of the lake and would impact on their use. There were also concerns that the lake was too remote from centres of population and that in the summer when the water level dropped, the wakepark would become unusable. Some people also felt that the structure would be unsightly. South West Lakes Trust pressed ahead and the wakepark was installed with five 10m-high (32ft) lattice towers placed in the water with cables running between them. Wakeboarding at Siblyback Lake in 2016 An enthusiastic user who was sixtee...

 We've had a long dry summer and the lake is very low as at mid-September 2022. We've had some rain in the last week or so but the streams running into the lake are just trickling. The low water has revealed lots of rocks and mud and the remnants of the Wakeboarding equipment that closed in 2018. Sometimes the lake refills quickly, sometimes it can take up to six months depending on how much rain we get in the autumn.

South West Lakes Trust launched an online survey on the 3rd July 2019 the purpose of which is to, "Help us to shape the future of Siblyback Lake". The survey was run on the popular Survey Monkey website and also in paper format at the lake and Liskeard Show. A closing date of the 6th September 2019 was set. The results will be used to decide what facilities will be offered at the lake in 2020 and beyond. Andy Parsons has reported that around 1000 responses have been received. They will soon be announcing their plan for the future.

Andy Parsons the CEO of South West Lakes Trust announced on Facebook on 03/10/19 that he will be leaving in December 2019 to take up a new role as Chief Executive of the Cotswolds (AONB) Conservation Board. South West Lakes Trust is the Charity that manages Siblyback lake and closed the watersports and camping facilities at the beginning of 2019. The CEO job at SWLT is being advertised at a salary of £75,000 plus company car and other benefits. The average wage in Cornwall is around £19,262 (source https://www.cioslep.com/about/lep-chair-blog/article/35/2019/03/06/tackling-a-low-wage-economy-in-cornwall-and-the-isles-of-scilly - accessed 4.10.19) . Mr Parsons was the man behind the unpopular closure of the watersports facility and camping at Siblyback Lake in February 2019. At a meeting held at the lake he indicated that the facility was losing £20,000 a year. He was around at the time of the installation of the controversial Wakeboarding System which was put at the lak...

When the wakeboard facility was closed at the end of 2017, several pieces of it were left behind. The huge concrete block with dangerous spikes sticking out of it was the most noticeable when it was exposed as the water level fell in the summer. This item could easily have been removed in 2018, but South West Lakes Trust just left it there. In summer 2019 as the water level again fell, the beach was a mess with lots of junk lying around. Old tyres, railway sleepers and sharp metal parts from the wakeboard system for example. Not really the sort of thing you would expect an environmental charity to leave lying about. Many of the smaller items were removed by kind volunteers on the 2nd October 2019. The following day a large digger was brought in to remove the huge concrete block which had been blighting the beautiful lake for nearly two years. Interestingly, the block wasn't actually removed from the lake but buried in a hole on the beach. Maybe it will reappear at some p...

On the 2nd October 2019, the following statement was issued by The Rockhopper on their Facebook page: "It is unfortunate and sad that I have decided to finish my lease of the cafe at Siblyback. Since taking on this business, there have been several changes and this year has seen the most. Siblyback is a great venue but it has always been difficult to balance the ups and downs of the trade due to the weather and subsequent path closures. Unfortunately this year has proved even more difficult with all the changes that have occurred. I have decided to concentrate on my other business which is Victoria Inn at Pensilva but would like to say a big thank you to all our customers at Siblyback and of course to all of the hardworking staff. It would be great to see the Rock Hopper customers visit us all at Pensilva. Thank you all very much for your support over the last three years".