Welcome to our guide to the most notable lakes and ponds throughout Gloucestershire. This includes Cotswold Water Park and lakes in the Forest of Dean. Lakes are great places to go for a walk or sit and also to relax next to the water. Sports often go hand in hand with bodies of water, including fishing, boating or wild swimming.
Larger bodies of water are great for photographers to take shots in particular reflection photography. A Lake can also be a great place to watch sunrise or sunset and enjoy the spectacle.
Lakes in Gloucestershire
All the bigger lakes and ponds in the county for visitors to explore.
Mallards Pike Lake in The Forest of Dean
Mallards Pike Lake in The Forest of Dean is a beautiful lake surrounded by lots of ancient woodlands. It is a great place to get out for a walk or a cycle. There is a café that is near the car park and a picnic area. This is a great place for a family picnic, where you can appreciate the surroundings over a cup of tea or coffee.
Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean
Cannop Ponds are two large ponds, located to the north of Parkend village in the Forest of Dean and close to the Sculpture Trail. The ponds, and surrounding area, are a popular destination for walking and cycling. This is one of the best course fishing lakes in the county.
Westgate Lake in Gloucester
Located a short walk from Gloucester town centre is Westgate lake, a nice place to relax at lunchtime. The lake is a haven for wildlife and also has stunning river views. It is alongside the river and also a viaduct with some very pleasant wildflower meadows nearby.
Gravel Pitt Lake in Frampton on Severn
Located just at the far end of the green are the Frampton on Severn gravel pits. The Sailing Club that calls the gravel pits’ lakes home. These are a nice place for a walk or to sit and relax overlooking the lake, watching the action at the sailing club.
FOSSC is a sailing club you can visit for a taster session, lessons or as a full member take part in activities on the lake. Overall, it’s a pleasant place to visit and watch the goings on. Afterwards, there are some lovely pubs in Frampton on Severn for a beer or a meal out.
Cotswold Water Park – Lakes in Gloucestershire
Cotswold Water Park is a place with many lakes and nature reserves. It covers an area of about 40 square miles, thus is rather big and has lots of options for lakes to see. The park is mostly in Gloucestershire, however; it is also in Wiltshire and West Oxfordshire.
The water park has lots of lakes which are popular for a variety of activities. Visitors to the lakes can enjoy fishing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and water skiing. Away from the water, visitors to Cotswold Water Park can do other activities. This includes walking, cycling, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting. The area is home to a fantastic selection of plants and wildlife, including some rare species. They have designated the water park as a Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI. This is because of its ecological importance.
Newent Lake
Newent Lake is on the former grounds of Newent Court and is a fantastic place to go for a walk or wildlife spotting. The lake is home to a variety of freshwater fish and birds. Birds you can easily see include mallards, coot, moorhen, kingfishers and herons. The trees surrounding the lake are home to nuthatches, robins, great spotted woodpeckers and more. The lake has an interesting history and was a fishing pond for medieval monks before becoming the Newent court in 1810.
Swallow Lake Longhope
If you like off the beaten path lakes that are great for a secluded walk, then Swallow Lake in Longhope might be the place to visit. There’s lots of good walking nearby and afterwards you can try one of the epic pies at the Farmer’s Boy Inn.