The United Kingdom is renowned for its diverse and stunning landscapes, from dramatic coastlines to rolling hills and ancient woodlands. Amidst this natural beauty lie numerous bodies of water that not only enhance the scenery but also serve as vital ecosystems and popular recreational spots. These lakes, lochs, and loughs contribute significantly to the country’s unique geographical charm and offer a tranquil escape for many.
From the picturesque Abberton Reservoir in Essex to the iconic beauty of Windermere in the Lake District, the UK boasts a remarkable array of freshwater bodies. This comprehensive guide presents 55 Lakes in the United Kingdom, each detailed with essential information such as its Country, Area (sq km), and Max Depth (m). You’ll find all these details and more outlined in the list below.
What is the largest lake in the United Kingdom by area?
While there are many significant lakes across the UK, Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland holds the title for the largest by surface area, covering approximately 388 square kilometers. In England, Windermere in the Lake District is the largest, spanning about 14.7 square kilometers. Scotland’s Loch Lomond is the largest by surface area in Great Britain, at around 71 square kilometers, and also the largest by volume in the UK.
Lakes in the United Kingdom
| Name | Country | Area (sq km) | Max Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lough Neagh | Northern Ireland | 392 | 25 |
| Loch Lomond | Scotland | 71 | 190 |
| Loch Ness | Scotland | 56 | 230 |
| Lower Lough Erne | Northern Ireland | 109 | 69 |
| Loch Awe | Scotland | 38.5 | 94 |
| Kielder Water | England | 10.86 | 52 |
| Windermere | England | 14.8 | 67 |
| Rutland Water | England | 12.6 | 34 |
| Loch Morar | Scotland | 26.7 | 310 |
| Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) | Wales | 4.84 | 42 |
| Ullswater | England | 8.9 | 63 |
| Loch Maree | Scotland | 28.6 | 114 |
| Loch Tay | Scotland | 26.4 | 150 |
| Loch Shiel | Scotland | 19.3 | 128 |
| Haweswater Reservoir | England | 3.9 | 57 |
| Derwentwater | England | 5.3 | 22 |
| Llyn Vyrnwy | Wales | 4.54 | 26 |
| Loch Katrine | Scotland | 12.4 | 151 |
| Coniston Water | England | 4.9 | 56 |
| Loch Ericht | Scotland | 18.6 | 156 |
| Wast Water | England | 2.9 | 76 |
| Llyn Brenig | Wales | 3.7 | 40 |
| Bassenthwaite Lake | England | 5.3 | 21 |
| Upper Lough Erne | Northern Ireland | 34.5 | 11 |
| Llyn Celyn | Wales | 3.3 | 43 |
| Loch Arkaig | Scotland | 16 | 109 |
| Ennerdale Water | England | 3 | 45 |
| Loch Rannoch | Scotland | 19.1 | 134 |
| Caban Coch Reservoir | Wales | 2.1 | 37 |
| Loch Earn | Scotland | 6.6 | 87 |
| Thirlmere | England | 3.3 | 40 |
| Loch Lochy | Scotland | 16 | 162 |
| Grafham Water | England | 6.27 | 21 |
| Chew Valley Lake | England | 4.9 | 14 |
| Llyn Padarn | Wales | 1.2 | 30 |
| Loch Shin | Scotland | 19.3 | 49 |
| Silent Valley Reservoir | Northern Ireland | 1.1 | 42 |
| Crummock Water | England | 2.5 | 44 |
| Pitsford Water | England | 2.85 | 17 |
| Llyn Brianne | Wales | 2.13 | 83 |
| Ladybower Reservoir | England | 2.1 | 41 |
| Lake of Menteith | Scotland | 2.6 | 25 |
| Llyn Idwal | Wales | 0.12 | 11 |
| Malham Tarn | England | 0.62 | 4.4 |
| Semerwater | England | 0.4 | 12 |
| Loch Tummel | Scotland | 4.1 | 39 |
| Llyn Gwynant | Wales | 0.5 | 22 |
| Carron Valley Reservoir | Scotland | 3.8 | 17 |
| Derwent Reservoir | England | 1.4 | 30 |
| Buttermere | England | 0.9 | 23 |
| Abberton Reservoir | England | 5.35 | 16 |
| Tal-y-llyn Lake | Wales | 0.9 | 8 |
| Loch of Harray | Scotland | 9.8 | 4 |
| Loch Leven | Scotland | 13.3 | 25.5 |
| Loch an Eilein | Scotland | 0.6 | 17 |
Images and Descriptions
Lough Neagh
The largest freshwater lake by area in the United Kingdom, supplying 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water. It is a rich habitat for wildlife, especially birds, and is steeped in ancient Irish mythology.
Loch Lomond
The largest lake in Great Britain by surface area, located in the Trossachs National Park. It is famous for its stunning scenery, numerous islands (or ‘inches’), and the well-known song “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond”.
Loch Ness
Famous worldwide for the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, ‘Nessie’. By volume, it is the largest lake in the UK, containing more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.
Lower Lough Erne
The larger of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh. It is a popular boating and fishing destination, dotted with many small islands, including Devenish Island, which is home to a 12th-century monastic site.
Loch Awe
The longest freshwater loch in Scotland, stretching for 41 kilometres. It’s renowned for its fishing and features several ruined castles on its islands and shores, including the picturesque Kilchurn Castle.
Kielder Water
The largest artificial lake in the UK by water capacity. Located in Northumberland, it is surrounded by a massive forest and is a major centre for water sports, stargazing, and outdoor recreation.
Windermere
The largest natural lake in England, situated in the heart of the Lake District National Park. A very popular tourist destination, it offers boat trips, water sports, and scenic walks along its extensive shoreline.
Rutland Water
One of the largest artificial lakes in Europe, located in England’s smallest county. It’s a major nature reserve, particularly famous for its ospreys, and a popular spot for cycling, sailing, and birdwatching.
Loch Morar
The deepest freshwater body in the British Isles, with a maximum depth of 310 meters. Like Loch Ness, it has its own monster legend, known as Morag, and is famed for its clear waters.
Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake)
The largest natural lake in Wales, located in Snowdonia National Park. It is fed and drained by the River Dee and is a popular centre for sailing, canoeing, and other water sports.
Ullswater
The second largest lake in the English Lake District, often considered the most beautiful. It is known for its dramatic mountain scenery and the famous ‘Ullswater Steamers’ that ferry passengers along its length.
Loch Maree
Often regarded as one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs, it contains numerous islands, some with ancient Scots Pine. The largest island, Eilean Sùbhainn, is unique for containing a loch that itself contains an island.
Loch Tay
A long, narrow loch in the central Highlands of Perthshire. The surrounding landscape is rich in history, with evidence of crannogs (prehistoric artificial islands) and the Scottish Crannog Centre located on its shore.
Loch Shiel
A stunning freshwater loch with a dramatic, mountainous backdrop. It features in the Harry Potter films as the Black Lake near Hogwarts, and the Glenfinnan Monument at its head commemorates the 1745 Jacobite Rising.
Haweswater Reservoir
A reservoir in the Lake District, controversial for its creation in the 1930s which involved flooding the village of Mardale Green. During dry spells, the remains of the old village can still be seen.
Derwentwater
Located near the town of Keswick in the Lake District, this lake is known for its picturesque islands, including St Herbert’s Island. It is surrounded by beautiful fells and is a popular spot for walkers and boaters.
Llyn Vyrnwy
A Victorian reservoir in Powys, Wales, created in the 1880s to supply Liverpool with fresh water. It is known for its iconic Gothic-style straining tower and is now a popular RSPB nature reserve.
Loch Katrine
Situated in the Trossachs, this loch has been the primary water source for the city of Glasgow since the Victorian era. It is famed for its association with Sir Walter Scott’s poem “The Lady of the Lake”.
Coniston Water
The fifth-largest lake in the Lake District. It is famous as the location for Donald Campbell’s fatal world water speed record attempt in 1967 and is a hub for sailing and kayaking.
Loch Ericht
A remote and dramatic freshwater loch situated on the border between Perth and Kinross and the Highlands. Its long, narrow shape is flanked by steep mountains, including the imposing Ben Alder.
Wast Water
England’s deepest lake, located in a remote and wild part of the Lake District. The scree slopes on its southeastern side plunge directly into the water, creating a dramatic and imposing landscape.
Llyn Brenig
A reservoir in North Wales, located high on the Denbigh Moors. It is known for its excellent trout fishing, cycling trails, and archaeological sites, including prehistoric burial mounds.
Bassenthwaite Lake
The only body of water in the Lake District to use the word ‘Lake’ in its name. It is one of the shallowest of the major lakes and is a designated National Nature Reserve.
Upper Lough Erne
A maze of islands, narrow channels, and peninsulas, making it feel more like a river than a lake. It is a renowned coarse fishing location and part of the Shannon–Erne Waterway.
Llyn Celyn
A large reservoir in Gwynedd, created in 1965 by damming the River Tryweryn. The construction was controversial as it flooded the Welsh-speaking village of Capel Celyn to supply water to Liverpool.
Loch Arkaig
A remote and beautiful loch in Lochaber, Scotland, surrounded by forest and mountains. It was famously used by commandos for training during WWII and is rumoured to be a hiding place for Jacobite gold.
Ennerdale Water
The most westerly of the Lake District’s lakes, located in a wild valley with no public roads along its shore. Part of a rewilding project, it offers a sense of tranquillity and remoteness.
Loch Rannoch
A large loch in Perth and Kinross, surrounded by the ancient Black Wood of Rannoch, a remnant of the old Caledonian Forest. It’s a popular spot for fishing and offers stunning views of Schiehallion.
Caban Coch Reservoir
The lowest of the Elan Valley reservoirs in mid-Wales, known for its dramatic dam which overflows in wet weather, creating a spectacular cascade. The reservoirs were built to supply water to Birmingham.
Loch Earn
A freshwater loch in the southern highlands, situated in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. It’s a popular centre for water sports, including water-skiing and kayaking.
Thirlmere
Originally two smaller lakes, Thirlmere was dammed in the 19th century to create a reservoir supplying water to Manchester. It lies at the foot of Helvellyn, one of England’s highest mountains.
Loch Lochy
A large freshwater loch in the Great Glen, forming part of the Caledonian Canal. It is a typical deep, narrow glen loch, flanked by steep mountains and is a popular route for boating enthusiasts.
Grafham Water
The third largest reservoir in England by area, located in Cambridgeshire. It is a nationally important site for wetland birds and a popular destination for sailing, fishing, and cycling.
Chew Valley Lake
A large reservoir in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, supplying drinking water to Bristol. It is a nationally important site for wildlife, especially birds, with over 260 species recorded.
Llyn Padarn
A glacially formed lake in Snowdonia National Park, nestled in a steep-sided valley. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to the rare Arctic char.
Loch Shin
The largest loch in Sutherland, its level was raised by a hydro-electric dam. It is a long, narrow loch known for its salmon fishing and the wild, remote landscape that surrounds it.
Silent Valley Reservoir
The main water supply source for most of County Down and Belfast, located in the scenic Mourne Mountains. The construction of its dam in the 1920s was a major feat of engineering.
Crummock Water
A picturesque lake in the western Lake District, nestled between Loweswater and Buttermere. It offers stunning views of the surrounding fells and is home to Scale Force, the highest waterfall in the region.
Pitsford Water
A reservoir in Northamptonshire that supplies the town of Northampton. It is a popular venue for sailing and fishing, and its surrounding park is a haven for wildlife and walkers.
Llyn Brianne
A spectacular reservoir in the headwaters of the River Tywi, created by the UK’s tallest dam at 91 meters high. It’s located in a remote, rugged part of the Cambrian Mountains, offering wild scenery.
Ladybower Reservoir
The lowest of three reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley, Derbyshire. It is famous for its two distinctive, bell-mouth overflow plugholes and was used by the Dambusters squadron for practice runs during WWII.
Lake of Menteith
Scotland’s only natural body of water referred to as a ‘lake’. It’s known for Inchmahome Priory, a ruined monastery on its largest island where Mary, Queen of Scots, once took refuge.
Llyn Idwal
A small, dramatic mountain lake set in a glacial amphitheatre known as Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia. The area is a National Nature Reserve, famous for its unique rock formations and rare alpine plants.
Malham Tarn
A glacial lake near Malham in the Yorkshire Dales, it is one of only eight upland alkaline lakes in Europe. Its high altitude and unique geology make it a site of significant scientific interest.
Semerwater
The second-largest natural lake in North Yorkshire, located in Raydale. According to legend, a prosperous city lies submerged beneath its waters, and it is a popular spot for wild swimming and canoeing.
Loch Tummel
A long, narrow loch in Perthshire, famous for the ‘Queen’s View’, a viewpoint named after Queen Victoria. This spot provides one of Scotland’s most iconic panoramic vistas.
Llyn Gwynant
A stunning natural lake in the Nant Gwynant valley in Snowdonia, with views towards the Snowdon massif. It is easily accessible from the road and is a very popular spot for kayaking and camping.
Carron Valley Reservoir
A large reservoir in Central Scotland, nestled between the Campsie Fells and Kilsyth Hills. It’s a major hub for rainbow and brown trout fishing and features one of Scotland’s premier mountain bike trail centres.
Derwent Reservoir
The middle of the three reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley of Derbyshire. Its dam, along with the Howden dam, was a primary practice site for the RAF’s 617 “Dambusters” Squadron.
Buttermere
Often praised for its scenic beauty, Buttermere is a small lake in the Lake District flanked by impressive fells. A circular path around the lake is one of the region’s most popular low-level walks.
Abberton Reservoir
A large reservoir in Essex, it is one of Europe’s most important wetlands for wildfowl. Thousands of birds use the site for wintering, making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
Tal-y-llyn Lake
A beautiful glacial ribbon lake in Snowdonia, at the foot of Cadair Idris mountain. It is a renowned spot for trout fishing and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geology.
Loch of Harray
The largest loch on the Orkney mainland, it is a shallow, brackish body of water connected to the Loch of Stenness. It is famous for its brown trout fishing and surrounding Neolithic sites.
Loch Leven
A freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross, it is a National Nature Reserve known for its rich birdlife. Its island castle was where Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned and forced to abdicate in 1567.
Loch an Eilein
Located in the Cairngorms National Park, this small but exceptionally beautiful loch is famous for its 13th-century island castle. Surrounded by ancient pine forest, it’s a popular spot for walkers and photographers.
