150 Lake/ River/ Ponds to Explore in England

Kielder water is the largest man-made reservoir in Europe, holding 200 billion litres of water. It is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity of water and it is surrounded by Kielder Forest, one of the biggest man-made woodlands in Europe. The scheme was planned in the late 1960s to satisfy an expected rise in demand for water to support a booming UK industrial economy.

Kings Mill Reservoir was originally a medieval mill pond, in 1837 William Bentinck the fourth Duke of Portland increased it's size by building a dam and flooding 72 acres of farmland, this would supply water all year round to the mills further down the river Maun and was completed in 1839. This lake in Mansfield has a nice walking trail to follow around the perimeter of the water. The trail runs for just over a mile with nice views across the lake and lots of waterfowl to see too.

Knypersley Reservoir is a canal feeder reservoir near Biddulph in Staffordshire. It is located south-east of Biddulph and named after the local Knypersley area. The reservoir was built in 1827 to supply water to the Caldon Canal, along with two others at Stanley Pool and Rudyard Lake. There are actually two adjacent lakes at the site, the upper one being the Serpentine Pool which feeds the lower Knypersley Pool or reservoir.

Ladybower Reservoir is a large Y-shaped reservoir in the Upper Derwent Valley, at the heart of the Peak District National Park. It was built between 1935 and 1943 by the Derwent Valley Water Board to supplement the other two reservoirs in supplying the water needs of the East Midlands. It was now one of the tourist attraction by its natural beauty and also there are several activities here.

Langsett Reservoir sits at the north eastern edge of the Peak District National Park, less than 5 miles south west of Penistone. With a capacity of over 1,400 million gallons, it is the biggest supply reservoir in the Sheffield district and also has one of the largest earth embankments in the UK. It is around a mile long, and supplies water for Sheffield and Barnsley via the Langsett Treatment Works. One of the iconic location and also you can spend some nice time there.

It is a series of 3 beautiful reservoirs which was built between 1855 and 1904 and, between them, they hold more than 240 million gallons of water. The reservoirs are surrounded by fields and bluebell woods. There are walking trails around the reservoirs, including a boardwalk section along the Upper Reservoir. There are also cycling trails around the Middle Reservoir and Lower Reservoir. One of the unique attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

Loweswater is a peaceful lake that is often bypassed and nestled in a wooded valley in the far west of the Lake District. The lake is owned by the National Trust and rowboats can be hired from Watergate Farm located at the southern end of the lake. The lake is unusual in the radial drainage pattern of the Lake District in draining towards the center of the Lake District.

The Macclesfield Canal passes through mostly green and rural surroundings, with Victorian mills and warehouses along the way adding a distinctive character. It passes through beautiful countryside and touches on several towns – Bollington, Macclesfield, and Congleton. The route of the canal was surveyed by Thomas Telford and construction was engineered by William Crosley. The completed canal was opened on 9th November 1831 at a cost of £320,000.

Malham Tarn is England’s highest freshwater lake.The current tarn is actually thought to only be half its original size with Tarn Moss, immediately to the west, having originally formed part of the lake It is an area of outstanding moorland uplands, with lower-rich hay meadows, varied birdlife, and awe-inspiring vistas.

Mallards Pike Lake is in the center of the Forest of Dean and is a beautiful lake surrounded by woodland. This is an ideal starting point for a walk or bike ride. This is the main location for Go Ape, the family cycle trail passes by here and there's a fab cafe too. One of the iconic attractions to relax and also you can spend some beautiful time with your loved ones in the center of greenery.

Mallards Pike Lake is in the centre of the Forest of Dean and is a beautiful lake surrounded by woodland. The lake is a hub of activity, with something for everyone, such as big family picnic areas, Go Ape, watersports, family cycling trails, parkruns and Gruffalo Orienteering for kids.

The Montgomery Canal, or ‘The Monty’ as it’s fondly referred to, stretches from Newtown to Llanymynech in Wales and continues over the border into England to Frankton Locks where it joins the Llangollen Canal. While not all of it is navigable by vessel the towpath is an open natural environment ready to enjoy and explore.

The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. The waterfall trail is a moderate circular walk of about an hour on a mostly one-way route. The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna.

The New River is neither new nor a river. It is a water supply aqueduct, completed in 1613, to bring drinking water from Hertfordshire to North London. It used to go from New Gauge in Hertford down as far as Sadlers Wells in Clerkenwell but now the overground waterway now ends at Stoke Newington though there are some ornamental waters along its route south of Stoke Newington.

North Cave Wetlands is a true example of a 21st Century nature reserve, developed in the footprint of a large sand and gravel quarry. It is is a peaceful place for a walk and to bird watch. There are also little ponds with dragonflies flying about. It is free to enter and park. It’s a great place to spend a day.

This is one of the beatiful jewels within the countryside of Calderdale. Ogden Water Local Nature Reserve offers a superb opportunity to escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Over 300,000 people visit Ogden Water every year for picnics, walking, feeding the ducks, family outings, and nature activities. There is a lovely level footpath around Ogden Water and three longer walks from the site.

The Ouseburn is a small river in Tyne and Wear, England that flows through the city of Newcastle upon Tyne into the River Tyne. It gives its name to the Ouseburn electoral ward. The Ouseburn has its source at Callerton in the north of the city near Newcastle Airport. It then flows through the Kingston Park area of the city, Newcastle Great Park, Gosforth Park and Whitebridge Park.

The Peak Forest Canal is one of Britain’s most scenic waterways, running through the magnificent landscape to the edge of the Peak District. The main objective of the canal was to improve the transportation of bulk manufactured goods and raw materials, particularly limestone from the quarries at Dove Holes, high up in the Peak Forest.

Plessey Woods Country Park is set in 100 acres of enchanting woodland, wild-flower-clad meadows and romantic riverside as the River Blyth runs through the park. Its intricate network of paths and trails make this a great spot for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and picnickers. The beautiful riverside walk along the River Blyth offers a chance of spotting otters and kingfishers. It was one of the iconic attraction in this area which offers a peaceful life.

The Pocklington Canal runs for 9.5 miles between East Cottingwith and Canal Head at Pocklington. This majestic rural waterway is one of the top canals for wildlife in the country. The four road bridges and nine locks are important heritage features and all of them are Grade II Listed. Seven miles of the canal is currently navigable and the entire canal has a towpath.