150 Lake/ River/ Ponds to Explore in England

The Bude Canal was built in 1823 to enable the transportation of unusually mineral-rich sand from beaches in and around Bude to the hilly interior of Devon and Cornwall's border country. It became the first canal in the UK and second in the world to use water-powered tub-boat inclines, and it had the most inclined planes of any waterway.

Bude Sea Pool is a semi-natural amenity that has provided a haven for free and safe bathing and other water-based activities since the 1930s. It is one of the very few tidal swimming pools which still remains open to the general public today and is open throughout the year, free for all to enjoy. The Pool is topped up by the sea at high tide each day.

Burrator Reservoir is situated within Dartmoor, and the tranquil water and surrounding mixed woodland contrast sharply with the open moor and the rugged Dartmoor tors. The reservoir is popular with walkers, cyclists, and horse riders due to its wealth of footpaths and bridleways. Many of the trails lead on to Dartmoor so it makes an ideal starting point for longer trips.

Buttermere is a lake in the Lake District in North West England. The classic combination of lakes and mountains has made this popular with visitors since the beginning of tourism in the Lake District. The popular lake is regularly voted as one of the country’s favourite views.

Caldecotte Lake lies off the H10 Bletcham Way, between the V10 Brickhill Street and the A5. There’s the lake where you can feed the ducks, a nice park and also just behind the Caldecotte Arms is one of MK’s hidden gems – the Caldecotte Miniature Railway. It costs just £1 a ride and the train goes round a track twice. IT was one of the iconic attraction where you can spend some nice time.

A beautiful two large ponds, which offers a large flat grassed area close to the car park and next to the ponds. It was home to lots of wildlife including mandarin ducks, awards, and dragonflies. The top pond is a wildlife trust nature reserve.

Carsington Water is a reservoir operated by Severn Trent Water located between Wirksworth and Kniveton in Derbyshire, England. The reservoir takes water from the River Derwent at Ambergate during winter months, pumping up to the reservoir by 10.5-kilometre (6.5 mi) long tunnels and aqueduct. Water is released back into the river during summer months for water abstraction and treatment further downstream. It is England's ninth largest reservoir with a capacity of 35,412 megalitres.

Cat Bells is a fell in the English Lake District in the county of Cumbria. It has a modest height of 451 m but despite this, it is one of the most popular fells in the area. Its distinctive shape catches the attention of many visitors to the Lakes who feel compelled to climb to the summit after seeing it from the viewpoint of Friars' Crag on the opposite side of Derwentwater.

Chasewater is a reservoir located in the parish of Burntwood[2] and the district of Lichfield in Staffordshire, England. Originally known as Norton Pool and Cannock Chase Reservoir, it was created as a canal feeder reservoir in 1797. As canals became less essential for the transport of goods during the mid-20th century, the reservoir diversified and became a popular public amenity with activities such as water-skiing, sailing, wakeboarding, and cycling.

Cheddar Reservoir is an artificial reservoir in Somerset, England, operated by Bristol Water. It has a capacity of 135 million gallons. The reservoir is supplied with water taken from the Cheddar Yeo river in Cheddar Gorge. It is roughly circular in shape, and surrounded by large earth banks which are grazed by sheep.

Chee Dale is a steep-sided gorge on the River Wye near Buxton, Derbyshire. The majestic slopes and imposing crags of carboniferous limestone that form Chee Dale create a spectacular setting for a walk. The dale's ash woodlands have developed on the steep slopes and you will even notice some trees growing out of the cliff faces.

Chew Valley Lake often attracts rare birds, including osprey, the scarcer grebes, and an American wader or duck appears most years. Itt is renowned for its scenic beauty and top-quality fly fishing. It often attracts rare birds, including osprey, the scarcer grebes, and an American wader or duck appears most years.

Chorlton Water Park is a Local Nature Reserve comprising a lake surrounded by grasslands and woodlands. There is a car park, small playground, picnic benches and a network of accessible paths. The Chorlton Water Park is a Local Nature Reserve comprising a lake surrounded by grasslands and woodlands. There is a car park, small playground, picnic benches and a network of accessible paths.

College Lake is widely regarded as one of the best places in Buckinghamshire for water birds, and with many hides overlooking the lake, this is a great destination for bird watchers or for families, whatever the weather or time of year. The site has more than a thousand species of wildlife on the lake, marshland, and grassland. Rare species include Lapwings, which nest on islands in the lake, and redwing.

Conifer Lake has been one of East Yorkshire’s fishing secrets for decades, surrounded and hidden by trees. It was one of the unique locations where you can spend some nice time in the middle of nature and can have a swim in this beautiful water.

A beautiful lake located in a picturesque location which is about half a mile down from the village, where you can hire boats and bikes from Coniston Boating Centre. There are shops, pubs, and places to eat in the village, and a range of guest houses, B and Bs and holiday cottages in Coniston and nearby. More recently Coniston Water was used to transport slate and ore from the many mines worked in the Coppermines Valley above Coniston village. It has three small islands, all owned by the Nationa

This unique area of over 150 lakes has something for everyone – from watersports and land activities, fantastic and varied birdwatching, excellent angling, off-road cycling, an inland beach, peaceful lakeside walks to beautiful Cotswold towns and villages waiting to be explored. You can come for a day visit, a short break or a family holiday.

The Coventry Canal is a navigable narrow canal in the Midlands of England. It starts in Coventry and ends 38 miles (61 km) to the north at Fradley Junction, just north of Lichfield, where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal. It also has connections with the Ashby Canal, the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the Oxford Canal.

The Cromford Canal used to run for 14.5 miles from Cromford to Langley Mill where it met the Erewash Canal with a branch to Pinxton. Built by William Jessop with help from Benjamin Outram, it's mostly derelict but still makes for a beautiful Derbyshire canal walk. The canal is ideal for walkers of all ages and abilities, and with regular public transport stops along the northern stretch you don’t have to walk back to your starting point if you don’t want to.

Crummock Water is the longest of three lakes in the Buttermere Valley cared for by the National Trust. This long lake is often ignored by visitors in favour of its smaller neighbour, Buttermere, and as such it offers a quieter alternative for a lakeside picnic and paddle if you are willing to walk a short distance.