Activities and Camping

Great days out with South West Lakes Trust

We have five Activity Centres across the region, where you can hire watersports equipment, launch your own craft or learn something new with our friendly and qualified instructors:

Roadford Lake in Devon
Siblyback Lake on Bodmin Moor
Stithians Lake in West Cornwall
Tamar Lakes on the Devon Cornwall border
Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor.

Extend your stay and camp at Roadford Campsite, Siblyback Campsite, Stithians Campsite, Tamar Campsite or Wimbleball Campsite.

Our lakes provide the perfect setting for a great day out in Cornwall, Devon and on Exmoor. Venture along our trails, encountering nature face to face. Refuel at our onsite cafés with delicious snacks, cakes and hot drinks. Enjoy a wide range of fun things to do – try an activity on or off the water for the very first time, shoot an arrow or swing through the trees, discover paddleboarding or explore our lakes by canoe. Extend your stay and enjoy a night under canvas, create a family holiday packed with new experiences creating lifelong memories.

Holidays like no other

Keep the whole family entertained with a range of activities on and off the water. Our expertly trained instructors offer superb sessions for you to experience a day out like no other. From canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing to archery and high ropes – there’s plenty of outdoor activities to experience the ultimate day out or holiday with the family in Cornwall, Devon and on Exmoor.

#ItsYourOutdoors - come and explore!

Download our Camping and Activities Terms and Conditions.

How to get into Sailing

Our top tips to learn how to sail:

Sailing is a great watersport and hobby to pick up. It promotes a healthy lifestyle and is an accessible sport for all to enjoy. If you’re a newbie or returning to boating after a break, than our top tips offer sound and practical advice on how to get into sailing. All ages and abilities can get involved in this sport. Whether you aspire to sail on big yachts, seek the thrills of racing or simply want to potter about on the water rest assured that there is something for everyone.

Learn the basics or brush up on your existing skills.

Learning how to sail is not that difficult. Learn the basics - For a relatively low cost we recommend that people interested in getting into any watersport should sign up for a 'Have a Go' session. These sessions are a great way for beginners to experience how much fun sailing is! A 'Have a Go' session will offer a great insight into a sport and provide flexibility without any commitment for beginners and returning sailors alike.

Join a club and make new friends:

Sailing is a sociable and fun way to get fit. It promotes health and well-being and allows us to escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Whether you want to get into sailing to meet new people or learn new skills, club environments offers an excellent setting for you to progress your sailing with like-minded individuals.

Be safe, choose a reputable activity centre:

There are plenty of sailing clubs across the UK. Finding a reputable club which offers excellent tuition and guidance that also follows NGB (national governing body) guidelines is easy with RYA (royal yachting association) training centres. A great activity centre offers an affordable entry into getting afloat. You can hire the latest equipment for very little cost and gain valuable tuition from expertly trained instructors

RYA recognised training centres ensure that the level of tuition and safety meets national standards. It’s easy to find an RYA centre, simply head over to the RYA website and go to ‘where’s my nearest’.

Cornwall is a fantastic place to go sailing with a variety of locations to choose from. Cornwall offers a great range of inland lakes that are perfect for all the family to learn to more challenging coastal sailing for experienced sailors.

Develop your skills, sign up for a course:

It’s best to learn at a Royal Yachting Association recognised sailing school where you can be assured of professional instruction and a world recognised sailing scheme. RYA sailing schools offer a range of courses for all abilities. Find out what courses we offer here.

Latest

Invasive Species Week 2024

It's Invasive Species Week from 20 to 26 May 2024 and we've got lots of activities planned to help raise awareness of invasive non-native species and what you can do to help prevent their spread.
Launch Membership Competition Terms and Conditions

Competition details for entering our South West Lakes Trust launch membership competition.
South West Lakes Trust launch membership competition

Looking for new adventures out on the water? Enter our competition to be in with a chance of winning a South West Lakes Trust launch membership worth £165! With five lakes to choose from, we are offering an opportunity for you to win time out on the water, with the freedom to return time and time again.
Locals Month at Siblyback Lake

We are offering 25% off equipment hire and camping in June to our local community as a thank you for your continued support. Come and join us for a fun-filled month at the lake!

Meet Tom Holloway, Activities and Camping Supervisor, Siblyback Lake

Hiya everyone, my name is Tom and I’m the new Activities and Camping Supervisor at Siblyback Lake, near Liskeard in Cornwall. It was only when I moved to the South West in 2018 where I realised I loved exploring the outdoors and started to enjoy staying active.
Meet Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club

Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club will be taking part in The Great Hobby Weekend at RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th of September.
Radio Sailing at Tamar Lakes

Have you heard about radio sailing? Learn more from the members of North Devon Radio Sailing Club Racing, who meet weekly at Upper Tamar Lake.
Meet Alan Smith, Visitor Experience Manager, Tamar Lakes

My name is Alan Smith, and I joined South West Lakes this year as Visitor Experience Manager at Tamar Lakes. When I'm not planning nature trails or looking after the welfare of our diverse fisheries you can find me running in the hills, down by the lake or climbing a tree.
Meet Beth Merriott, Administrator at Roadford Lake

Hello, my name is Beth Merriott and I’m the administrator for Roadford Lake Activity Centre which is based between Okehampton and Launceston. I’ve been working for SW Lakes since March 2019. You’ll mainly find me in the office but I do try to get out and about around site to greet customers and check the facilities.
Meet Matt Lennox, Visitor Experience Manager, Central

Hello everyone, my name is Matt Lennox and I’m the Visitor Experience Manager covering the central area which includes Roadford Lake and Siblyback Lake. I have been involved with the great work South West Lakes Trust do since the age of 16, starting off as a kayaking instructor during the summer months at Tamar.
Meet Becki Hayward, Chief Instructor at Roadford Lake

Hi, I’m Becki, Chief instructor at Roadford Lake. I have worked for South West Lakes Trust for 4 and a half years. I spent my childhood messing around on the beach and was always far happier outside in the fresh air than shut up indoors.
Meet Lark Bridges, Chief Instructor at Stithians Lake

My name is Lark and I am Chief Instructor at Stithians Lake near Redruth. I have been working for South West Lakes Trust for 5 years now. I have always enjoyed being outdoors and on or in the water!
Meet Luke Hoather, Visitor Experience Manager, Exmoor

Hi everyone, my name is Luke and I am the Visitor Experience Manager for Exmoor. I actually only stepped into a Dinghy for the first time when I was 21 years old.
Meet Matt Loughlin, Visitor Experience Manager, West

My name is Matt Loughlin and I’m the Visitor Experience Manager covering West Cornwall and have worked for South West Lakes Trust on and off since 2000.

Current reservoir levels

See the current water levels in our reservoirs.
Equipment Hire

Experience the ultimate family adventure by exploring the lakes at your own pace. We have a variety of watersports equipment available to hire including; kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards and more.
Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor

Wimbleball is a hub of colour and activity throughout all the seasons. Nestled within the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park, there are plenty of ways to get active at Wimbleball. With an array of walking and cycling trails winding around the 530 acre site, and a fantastic range of watersports and other activities available, this is the perfect location to spend a day outdoors – whether you are looking for a leisurely stroll or a challenging expedition.
South West Lakes Trust Booking Confirmation

Thank you for your South West Lakes Trust booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email shortly with details of your booking.
Book Now
Self-launch and Launch Membership

Already have your own kit? You can launch your own kayak, canoe, dingy or stand up paddleboard at our lakes! And, if you are a regular visitor, you can even become a member and launch as often as you like at all five activity centres!
Wimbleball Campsite

Experience a family camping holiday like no other at Wimbleball Lake, nestled in the hills of Exmoor National Park. Create the ultimate camping break packed with adventure, creating lasting memories for the whole family.
Roadford Lake, Devon

Roadford Lake sits within the stunning surroundings of the Wolf Valley, close to Launceston on the Cornwall border. One of the biggest and busiest inland waters in the South West, the lake is surrounded by a variety of natural habitats, including Culm Grasslands, woodlands, old pastures and orchards.
Join the team

Current vacancies
Siblyback, Cornwall

Surrounded by the striking backdrop of Bodmin Moor, Siblyback Lake lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). There is a beautiful 5km round lake circuit, which is perfect for pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles. The path runs adjacent to the lake, and passes by the impressive Siblyback Dam and through woodlands.F