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. Car parking is just £2 for two hours, and £4 for the whole day. Your contribution helps us to maintain the lakes for everyone. Find out about the various ways you can pay for parking here.

Walking at Wimbleball Lake

There is a short, linear walk to the dam (1.3m/2.1km), which should take approximately 30 minutes. Return on the same route for a 3 mile walk. For the more adventurous walker, there is the challenging 9 mile/14.5km hike around the lake perimeter: ‘The Lakeside Round Walk’. This should take roughly 3 hours. Both start from the on-site café car park. Bring your dog along on a lead and enjoy the walk with the whole family.

Alternatively, get on your bike and cycle along paths that offer tantalising glimpses of beautiful lake views. The cycle routes mostly follow bridleways and some quiet country lanes, and pass through woodland and grassland.

Refuel at Wimbleball Lake

Bring along a picnic and take a break at one of the well-appointed picnic areas, or visit the café. Coffee Couture offers great food and drinks with a stunning backdrop. For opening times, visit the Facebook page. 

Stargaze at Wimbleball Lake

Pay a visit after dark and look up to the sky! Located within Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve on Exmoor, Wimbleball is a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site and is the perfect place to stargaze and engage with nature and the outdoors in its greatest form. Read more about stargazing on Exmoor National Park.

Activities at Wimbleball Lake

Take the opportunity to let off steam in our informal play area, or explore the atmospheric woodlands.

You can also get on the water or enjoy a camping break at Wimbleball Lake. With a range of activities including kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and sailing, our friendly activity team are on hand to help you discover an activity as a family, organised group or individual. Visit our swlakes website to find out more.

You can also enjoy excellent trout fishing at Wimbleball Lake. Find out more here.

An all-terrain mobility scooter, ‘The Tramper’, and a Wheelyboat are available if you require them. Please call or email for more information.

Wildlife at Wimbleball Lake 

Boasting a variety of special wildlife hotspots, visitors can expect to find a range of wildfowl, as well as mammalian varieties such as hedgehogs, weasels and, if you are lucky (and quiet!), the iconic Exmoor red deer. But as spring fast approaches, flashes of patterned wings and the twitch of antenna become a more regular sight around the lake as the butterflies begin to take flight!

The dedicated site team and regular volunteers carry out a range of conservation tasks to promote a variety of species. One particularly special butterfly species found at Wimbleball is the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Boloria selene. This small orange and brown butterfly can be identified by several white pearl markings on the hind wings bordered by black chevrons and is found flying from late May to mid-June around the northern arm of the lake, within Hurscombe Nature Reserve.

Look out for beautiful orchids in the wildflower meadow, and spot wax caps in the grassy banks near the Activity Centre in late autumn and winter. Try birdwatching from the bird hide – you might even glimpse a starling murmuration!

If you are staying at the campsite, keep a look out for brown long-eared bats, which you might see flying around at night, hunting for airborne insects.

Address: Activity Centre, Wimbleball Lake, Lower Goodacre, Brompton Regis, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9NU