merlinlocations | Speech House Lake (Reply)

Speech House Lake is a small narrow lake in the Forest of Dean, not overly attractive in itself, but transformed by the magic of filming into a mystical place…

how it's used in Merlin

In the episode The Gates of Avalon, Speech House Lake stands in for the other-worldly Avalon, home of the Sidhe. In reality the Lake itself is a fairly drab place, but it is truly transformed in the night-time scene where an enthralled Merlin witnesses Aulfric bargaining with the exotic tiny blue winged Sidhe. (Oops, exceeded my adjective quota there!) The shots of Arthur actually sinking through the water were filmed in a tank in Battersea, London. A much more hygenic way to treat a star!

In the episode Excalibur, the location was also used as a more prosaic unnamed lake - though enhanced by dramatic CGI mountains in the background - where Merlin ends up hiding the magical sword that he, Tom and the Great Dragon have created between them.

the place itself

Speech House Lake isn't exactly on the beaten tourist trail! It's hidden away behind the Cyril Hart Arboretum and the Speech House Hotel. The latter was once a hunting lodge used by Charles II, and now serves a mean walnut and avocado salad. The Lake is often busy, however, with people fishing.

There are little concrete jetties along the left bank as you're facing the lake, presumably for the benefit of people fishing. The second one along was used to film the reverse angle shots of Aulfric and the others; this is shown in the second photo.

links and details

the location on Google Maps
Edit: and a picspam by ghost_0106

The address is: Speech House Lake, Spruce Ride, Ruspidge, Forest of Dean, England.

To find the Lake, turn off the Speech House Road (B4226) and head down the (unnamed?) road that runs along the side of the Speech House Hotel. It's not too far! There is a turn to the left into a car park for the arboretum. (This is a secondary car park, and not the major one on the Speech House Road.) Spruce Ride is the broad unpaved road heading southeast. There is a locked gate across it, so you'll have to walk. But it's not very far! Just where the road dips before climbing again, you'll see Speech House Lake on your right.

rating

I was mulling over this rating for a while… On one hand, there isn't much to see at the Lake. On the other hand, it's a kind of significant location, and anyway it's always good to know where Excalibur is, just in case the current incarnation of Arthur needs it in a hurry. I wouldn't make the trip just to go there, but if you're in the Forest of Dean, why not add it to your itinerary? So, three pointy hats.