South West Lakes Trust is an independent charity dedicated to caring for and enhancing the South West’s reservoirs and lakes. The charity’s lakes in Devon provide a perfect setting for a great day out, be it for a stroll, to play, nature watch or enjoy adventurous activities such as stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or sailing.

The largest, Roadford Lake near Okehampton, offers AALA and RYA approved training centres for dinghy sailing, windsurfing and kayaking and with fully qualified training instructors, we can suit all needs from beginners to the more experienced. We also have facilities for the hire of equipment and self launch.

Courses and tuition include friendly taster sessions for beginners to RYA and BCU levels 1 and 2 for those wishing to further their skills. Children from 8 through to mums and dads and grandmas and grandads are most welcome to come along and try these exciting sports!

Other lakes on Dartmoor include Burrator, near Yelverton; Fernworthy, near Chagford; Meldon, near Okehampton; Kennick, Tottiford and Trenchford, near Moretonhampstead; and Venford, near Newton Abbot.

All our lakes have fantastic footpaths leading visitors around the inlets and changing landscapes of Devon, many of which have colourful walks leaflets highlighting the routes around the lakes.