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💧 Reservoir

Wimbleball Lake

✦ Ancient woodland808 ha

📷 Roger Cornfoot · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeDogsHeritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome808 ha

Getting here

51.06386, -3.46747

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Best for

5 activities

Wildlife

Strong match

Ancient woodland

Free

Dog walks

Good match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Heritage

Good match

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Waterside walks

Good match

Reservoir — waterside public access

Varies

Picnic day out

Moderate match

Reservoir — waterside day out

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

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1 signed route nearby · 20 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Exe Valley WayWalking route▾
Named routeRef EVWRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

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4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 3Cycling route527.7 km▾
Named routeRef 3Length 527.7 kmNational Cycle Network
EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part United Kingdom 2Cycling route▾
Named routeRef EV1International cycle route
Main RouteCycling route3.8 km▾
Named routeRef 3Length 3.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route2.3 km▾
Named routeRef 3Length 2.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

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12 public paths nearby

Public paths
Blagdon Lanebridleway · 1.7 km▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 1.7 kmPath type: unclassified
Steep Lanebridleway · 395 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 395 mPath type: service

About this reservoir

Wimbleball Lake is a reservoir covering 808 hectares managed by Forestry England within their forest estate. As an ancient woodland, it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD — a rare and irreplaceable habitat rich in biodiversity and historical character.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

22 photos from nearby open sources

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Looking over Wimbleball Lake

📷 Roger Cornfoot · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Looking over Wimbleball Lake

1 / 22

Visiting this spring

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

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  • 🌸Ancient woodlands are famous for bluebell carpets in April and May — one of Britain's most spectacular wildflower displays
  • 🐦Prime nesting season — listen for woodpecker drumming, warbler song and the first cuckoos from April
  • 🦌Roe deer are active before the leaf canopy closes in — dawn and dusk are best
✦ Ancient✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
  • 🌳Large woodland — room to roam

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Lock up 60m south-east of the Church of St MaryHistoric site2.3 km→⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds2.4 km→💧Wimbleball LakeReservoir0 m→⛪St James's ChurchReligious grounds2.8 km→⛪St Mary Magdalene's ChurchReligious grounds3.2 km→⛪St John the Baptist's ChurchReligious grounds3.5 km→