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.

Sailing and windsurfing courses

Whether you are a beginner, improver or at a more advanced level - we have a sailing or windsurfing course for you! We offer junior and adult courses and clubs.

RYA courses are internationally recognised qualifications in dinghy sailing and windsurfing. Participating in these courses will help you to learn and develop invaluable skills such as teamwork, determination, communication, independence, confidence and creative problem solving.

All courses are £125 for the full five weeks plus £7 for the logbook (once purchased you can use the same logbook for follow on courses). All equipment, wetsuit and buoyancy aid use included – you will just need to bring suitable footwear, swimsuit and a towel.

Little Tackers = Age 6-8

Junior courses = Age 8-16
Adult = 17+

Scroll to the bottom of this page for booking.

Two-day courses 2024

Easter Holiday
Junior RYA Stage 1 Sail (8-16)	Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 April
Adult RYA Level 1 Sail (17+)	Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April
Junior RYA Stage 1 Sail (8-16)	Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 April
May Half Term
Adult RYA Level 1 Sail (17+)	Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June
Junior RYA Stage 2 Sail (8-16)	Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June

Five-day summer holiday junior courses 2024

Monday to Friday, 9.30am-12pm:

5-9 August RYA Stage 1 Sailing
12-16 August RYA Stage 2 Sailing
19-23 August RYA Stage 1 Sailing

Five-week courses

Tuesday 16 April to Tuesday 14 May 2024

Every Tuesday for five weeks.

Morning courses 9.30am-12pm

Ladies Learn to Wing Surf

Adult Multi Sport Course

Saturday 20 April to Saturday 18 May 2024

Every Saturday for five weeks.

Morning courses 9.30am-12pm	Afternoon courses 1pm-3.30pm
Junior RYA Stage 1 Sail	Adult RYA Level 1 Sail
Junior RYA Stage 1 Windsurf	Adult RYA Start Windsurf
Little Tackers RYA Stage 1 Sail	Junior RYA Stage 1 Sail
Junior Sailing Improvers club	Adult Sailing Improvers club
Junior Windsurf Improvers club	Adult Windsurf Improvers club

Friday 3 May to Friday 31 May 2024

Every Friday for five weeks.

Morning courses 9.30am-12pm	Afternoon courses 1pm-3.30pm
Home Ed RYA Stage 2 Sail	Home Ed RYA Stage 1 Sail

Saturday 8 June to Saturday 6 July 2024

Every Saturday for five weeks.

Morning courses 9.30am-12pm	Afternoon courses 1pm-3.30pm
Junior RYA Stage 1 Sail	Adult RYA Level 1 Sail
Junior RYA Stage 1 Windsurf	Adult RYA Level 2 Sail
Little Tackers RYA Stage 2 Sail	Junior RYA Stage 2 Sail
Junior Sailing Improvers club	Adult RYA Start Windsurf
Junior Windsurf Improvers club	Adult Windsurf Improvers club

Saturday 27 July to Saturday 24 August 2024

Every Saturday for five weeks.

Morning courses 9.30am-12pm	Afternoon courses 1pm-3.30pm
Junior Stage 2 Sail	Adult RYA Level 2 Sail
Junior Stage 2 Windsurf	Junior RYA Stage 1 Sail
Junior Sailing Improvers	Adult Sailing Improvers
Junior Windsurf Improvers	Adult Windsurf Improvers

Saturday 14 September to Saturday 12 October 2024

Every Saturday for five weeks.

Morning courses 9.30am-12pm	Afternoon courses 1pm-3.30pm
Junior RYA Stage 1 Sail	Adult RYA Level 3 Sail
Junior Windsurf Improvers club	Adult RYA Level 1 Sail
Junior Sailing Improvers club	Adult RYA Windsurf Improvers club

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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!
Opening Times and Contact

Please check opening times before travelling to the lake. Here you will find the opening times and contact information for both Siblyback Lake Activity Centre and Olive & Co Cafe.

Opening Times and Contact Us

Please check opening times before travelling to site. Here you will find the opening times and contact information for both Stithians Lake Activity Centre and Wild Vibes Cafe.
Summer half term activities at Stithians Lake

Stithians Lake is the perfect place to visit this summer half term! Enjoy an unforgettable family adventure, jam-packed with new experiences.
Efoiling at Stithians Lake

Efoils are a great tool to learn the basics of foiling. Whether you would like to progress to wing foiling, prone foiling or just get out on the water and try something different, our efoil sessions are perfect.
Wing Surfing and Foiling at Stithians Lake

They said wing surfing would never catch on but quite the opposite has happened and this amazing new wind sport has emerged. It’s definitely here to stay and it’s so much fun!
Stithians Campsite

Enjoy an outdoor camping adventure with the whole family in Cornwall. Stithians provides a superb Cornish camping holiday with pitches set adjacent to the lake.
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.
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!
Instructor-led Sessions

Learn something new with one of our qualified instructors. Take part in a 'Have a go' session, expand your knowledge by signing up to a course or get involved in one of our weekly clubs. There really is something for all ages and abilities to try.
Groups

The lakes of the South West provide stunning natural environments where groups can get to grips with water and land activities, develop communication skills, focus on team work, improve self-esteem and be at one with nature.
Education

Thinking about a career in the watersports industry? We’ve formed an exciting new partnership with Falmouth Marine School which will enable professional watersports instructor training to continue in Cornwall.

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