Active outdoors

Our lakes provide an abundance of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to engage with the outdoors and get active. We aim to provide great experiences, both on and off the water, which encourage our visitors to be active and healthy whilst enjoying time with friends and family.

The health and well being benefits of spending time outdoors are well known and an increasingly important part of modern life. Research shows that green spaces have a key role to play in improving public health. This is why our role is important; we believe we can make a regional difference to our nation’s well being. Our lakes and their surrounding environments can benefit local communities by promoting exercise and positive social experiences, which in turn can improve physical and mental health.

 

We are continually working to ensure the lakes are places everyone can access and enjoy, beyond taking part in traditional sports. There are fantastic watersports to try out, such as stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or sailing, opportunities to get into fishing and there are also plenty of foot and cycle paths in beautiful settings  – the perfect platform for raising your heart rate in the fresh air.

Our Trustee champion, Malcolm Bell says
“As a sailor myself, I am keen to see more people being able to enjoy time afloat,
after all: there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

Getting out and about

Over recent years, we have secured funds and donations to provide Wheely Boats at various locations. Designed for less able visitors, they enable less able people to access and enjoy being on the water. Working with the Wheely Boat Trust, several of our fisheries have these fantastic boats, which are also available to hire for visiting groups. 

We have also recently completed upgrades and extensions to some paths at Roadford Lake, including the creation of a cycle trail from the Activity Centre, which now links to the dam, enabling visitors to cycle between the café and forest to the activity centre and campsite, and vice versa.Working with Dartmoor National Park Authority, the paths at Fernworthy Reservoir have also been upgraded, including a wheelchair/pushchair accessible section.