Our lakes are visited by nearly 2 million people every year, they're located across the South West; from the bottom point of Cornwall all the way to Exmoor. Besides being really important feats in engineering in the water cycle - capturing and storing rainwater - our lakes are special places for people to explore the outdoors and home to a range of wildlife.

Some of our lakes are located in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, have designations such as Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. They're rich in history, some of them are over 100 years old and have Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

Click the dots on the map to find out more about our lakes.

What you can do at our lakes

South West Lakes Trust are an independent charity who are stewards of our sites. The charity manage our sites for public access, conservation and recreation - they make sure you have a great day out and work hard to protect our sites for future generations. There’s masses of things to do at our sites with South West Lakes Trust – try an activity on or off the water; try archery, learn how to sail or windsurf, you can hire kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. You can enjoy delicious food at one of the cafes or even extend your stay at one of the campsites.

Lakes are beautiful – but can also be dangerous. Every summer, we remind people not to swim in our lakes because of the risks that can affect even the strongest swimmer. Read our reservoir safety information.