Top 7 Lakes around St. Kew

For tranquil walks and scenic views, consider Stannon Lake, easily accessible from the Rough Tor parking lot. It offers pleasant routes through a unique landscape formed from a former china clay quarry. Another excellent option is Colliford Lake, Cornwall's largest inland water, which features three way-marked walks and expansive moorland views. You can also explore the nearby Kerdroya, the world's largest stone labyrinth, for a unique walking experience with views of Colliford Lake.

Yes, Porth Reservoir, located near Newquay, is a designated bird sanctuary and a fantastic spot for birdwatching. You might spot owls, woodpeckers, kingfishers, Great Crested Grebes, and many other species. There's even a bird hide at the eastern end for optimal viewing. Tamar Lakes (Upper and Lower) are also rich in birdlife, with Lower Tamar Lake being a designated nature reserve featuring a bird hide where over 200 species have been recorded, including ospreys and cormorants.

Siblyback Lake is a hub for watersports, offering kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and windsurfing. Equipment hire is available, or you can launch your own. Upper Tamar Lake also provides a wide array of activities including kayaking, rowing, canoeing, paddleboarding, sailing, and swan pedalos, with an activity centre on site. For those seeking windier conditions, Stithians Reservoir is known as one of the windiest lakes in the UK, ideal for windsurfing and sailing, alongside other activities.

Siblyback Lake is very family-friendly, featuring a children's play area overlooking the lake and ample open space for picnics and games. It also has a 5km circular path suitable for pushchairs and bicycles. Tamar Lakes offer on-site cafes, play areas, and camping facilities, making them great for a family day out. Additionally, Padstow Harbour, while not a lake, is a popular family destination with attractive beaches and coves nearby, and is rich in history and heritage.

For easy walks, Siblyback Lake has a beautiful 5km (3.1 miles) circular path that is suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs, and bicycles. Upper Tamar Lake also features a three-mile (4.5 km) circular path suitable for bikes, pushchairs, and wheelchairs. The area around Stannon Lake provides pleasant and accessible walking routes, easily reachable from the Rough Tor parking lot.

While exploring the lakes, you can visit nearby historical sites. Port Quin Cove is a serene spot with a fascinating history, known as ‘the village that died’. It's an idyllic cove with rock pools. The charming fishing village of Port Isaac, famous for its role in the TV series 'Doc Martin', is also close by and offers a glimpse into traditional Cornish life. Padstow Harbour is another area rich in history and heritage, with a picturesque town and many attractive beaches.

Yes, several lakes offer excellent fishing. Colliford Lake is renowned for traditional fly-fishing for natural brown trout and is considered Cornwall's premier brown trout fishery. Porth Reservoir is primarily a coarse fishery, open year-round, with opportunities to catch carp, pike, bream, and more, including wheelchair-accessible fishing platforms. Upper Tamar Lake is acclaimed as a top still water coarse fishery in the UK, known for its carp and coarse fishing. Stithians Reservoir is a popular trout fishery, stocked with rainbow and brown trout, offering both bank and boat fishing.

Beyond walking, you can enjoy various outdoor activities. For cycling, consider routes like 'The Camel Trail' which has sections near St. Kew, offering easy to difficult rides. You can find more details on cycling routes in the Cycling around St. Kew guide. For mountain biking, trails like 'Camel Trail' are available, with more options in the MTB Trails around St. Kew guide. Gravel biking enthusiasts can explore routes such as 'Goss Moor, Bishop's Wood and Camel Estuary loop' as detailed in the Gravel biking around St. Kew guide. Many lakes also offer watersports like kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing.

Siblyback Lake features a 5km circular path that is suitable for wheelchairs. Similarly, the three-mile circular path around Upper Tamar Lake is also suitable for wheelchairs. Stithians Lake is committed to social inclusion, providing wheelchair-friendly facilities and activities like Sailability, and also has wheelchair-accessible fishing platforms.

The lakes around St. Kew offer different experiences throughout the year. Spring and summer are ideal for watersports, family picnics, and enjoying the lush scenery. Autumn provides beautiful foliage for walks. In winter, Colliford Lake becomes a haven for birdwatchers, with wigeon, goldeneye, golden plover, and lapwing frequently spotted. The Bodmin Moor area, including Siblyback Lake, is a designated International Dark Sky Landscape, making it excellent for stargazing year-round, especially on clear nights.

For a more tranquil experience, Stannon Lake offers pleasant walks in a unique, quiet landscape. Porth Reservoir is known for its peaceful environment, ideal for disconnecting and reconnecting with nature, especially for birdwatching away from bustling areas. While Colliford Lake is large, its expansive nature means you can often find quiet spots, particularly along its three way-marked walks.

Visitors particularly appreciate the diverse natural beauty and recreational opportunities. For instance, the area around Padstow Harbour is loved for its charming fishing town, rich history, and attractive nearby beaches. Port Quin Cove is cherished for its serene, unspoiled setting and idyllic rock pools, perfect for paddleboarding. The unique landscape and pleasant walks around Stannon Lake are also highly rated by the komoot community.