Campsites, hill walks and beaches are abundant, but if you’re in the market for a nice peaceful lake trip, you’ll also be well catered for. Below are six of the most beautiful, inviting lakes within easy reach of Bristol.
Henleaze Lake has been a landmark of the Bristol area for a century, mostly thanks to its wild swimming club. Created through the flooding of a limestone quarry in 1903, it was taken over by the club in 1919. Now, members can enjoy 165m (541ft) of swimming water, as well as fixed diving boards on the banks and even a sauna. Henleaze Lake is in the Eastfield district of Bristol, a 15-minutes drive or 30 minutes by bus from the centre.
The Litton Reservoirs were built around 170 years ago to bring water from the Mendip Hills down into the Bristol area. Made up of one smaller upper lake and a larger, deeper lower one, the site is girdled by a public footpath which is alive with wildflowers in the spring and summer months, while the lake itself is popular with birdwatchers and anglers alike. The reservoirs are just outside Litton, a village 40 minutes south of Bristol.
Relatively small compared to some of the other lakes on this list, Hunstrete is only five acres (2 hectares), but sits in the midst of the Lord’s Wood, which stretches out into the Chew Valley. It is a popular habitat for water birds and, at the right time of year, you can even spot bats. Hunstrete Lake is 30 minutes south of Bristol by car.
