The Lake District instead of Lanzarote, the Cairngorms instead of Crete: during these times of adjusting to the “new normal”, many Brits are spending their holidays right here at home.
And what could be better than a day or two spent exploring the incredible wilderness followed by taking a refreshing dip in a lake?
From the Scottish Highlands to the unbeatable National Parks which are scattered across the nation, the UK boasts unbeatable landscapes and some spectacular lakes. But which lake is the most beautiful?
Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, has found out exactly which lakes should be at the top of your bucket list.
Comparing the Google Reviews for over 12,500 lakes in the country, we can now present the top 10 best rated ones. But amidst all of the fun, don’t forget: keep an eye on the distance rules of one and a half metres, also when swimming!
1. Ullswater, Lake District – 4.9/5, 547 reviews
Championing the list today is Ullswater, located in the spectacular Lake District, Cumbria.
This is the second largest lake in England and stretches to seven and a half miles long! It is also the third deepest English lake at 250 feet deep.
Ullswater is surrounded by stunning mountains and rolling hills, making it the perfect destination for hiking, mountain biking and many more outdoor activities including watersports on the lake itself.
1. Buttermere, Lake District – 4.9/5, 293 reviews
Next up is another lake situated within the Lake District, Buttermere. There are plenty of lovely walks surrounding the lake which are suitable for families too and you can even stumble upon a number of waterfalls.
Take a pit stop during your day and visit one of the pubs or the coffee shop and enjoy ice cream, a pastry, or treat yourself to a cold pint of beer!
2. Wast Water, Lake District – 4.9/5, 290 reviews
Wast Water lake can be found in the valley of Wasdale and is the deepest lake in England at 258 feet!
This stunning location is often dubbed as a “photographers dream” and one of the best views in England. Again, expect to find here a number of scenic walking routes which guide you around the natural beauty this area has to offer.
You can even try your hand at some stand up paddle boarding on the lake!
3. Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia – 4.9/5, 214 reviews
Next up is the first Welsh location, Llyn Idwal. This is a small lake that lies within Cwm Idwal in the Glyderau mountains of Snowdonia.
This small glacial lake boasts surreal beauty which has been likened to the type of view you would expect on Game of Thrones.
There is a pebble beach which can be used for sunbathing during the summer months, but don’t expect the mountain lake waters to be warm!
4. Llyn y Fan Fach, Brecon Beacons National Park – 4.9/5, 133 reviews
Llyn y Fan Fach is an epic lake of approximately 10 hectares and lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.
The area’s glacial past can be clearly noticed in its breathtaking landscape of the lake, rivers and wild mountain range. Enjoy a hike in a tranquil part of the country.
5. Glaslyn, Snowdonia – 4.9/5, 131 reviews
Glaslyn lake is the biggest nature reserve owned by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust in the Cambrian Mountains.
The lake sits at the bottom of three peaks and is often a pitstop for hikers en route up or returning down from the Snowdon summit.
Take a dip in the water, if you’re brave enough to brace the cold! But the beautiful backdrop will be worth the chill. In the summer months the reserve is covered with white cottongrass and purple heather!
6. Llyn Brianne, Cambrian Mountains – 4.9/5, 124 reviews
Llyn Brianne is a manmade lake headwaters of the River Tywi in Wales, on the edge of the Cambrian Mountains, a sparsely populated area of the country.
Take a long stroll with your dog or perhaps grab your bike cycle around the reservoir and admire the beauty of the lake from every angle as you feel at one with nature.
7. Loch Muick, Cairngorms National Park – 4.9/5, 106 reviews
Now for the first of two Scottish lakes, or rather lochs, we have Loch Muick. Loch Muick is located 8 miles south west of Ballater in Aberdeenshire and is part of the Balmoral Estate.
This loch is located at the foot of Lochnager, one of the finest mountains in Scotland. If you are interested in animal spotting, you’re in luck here!
From red squirrels and deer to salmon and trout, this loch is home to many wildlife species.
8. Loch Lomond, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park – 4.8/5, 1661 reviews
Perhaps the most famous lake in this ranking, in 9th place is the magnificent Loch Lomond.
This is Scotland’s biggest lake, stretching 22.6 miles long and is split between the lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands. This freshwater loch is popular with watersports lovers.
There are many charming villages scattered around the loch.
9. Lake Vyrnwy, Powys – 4.8/5, 393 reviews
Rounding up the ranking today is the wonderful Lake Vyrnwy, located in Powys, Wales.
This lake is one of Wales’ hidden gems, nestled in the remote and scenic Berwyn Mountains.
Here you will find waterfalls, green countryside and many walks which are suitable for all ages and abilities.
This lake can be easily reached by car from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester and is the perfect place to begin your exploration of the Welsh mountains.
Methodology:
- This ranking has been compiled by Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals (holidu.co.uk).
- Data used from Google was the number of reviews and the highest score of reviews for lakes in the UK (gathered: August 2020).
- All lakes that are marked as such on Google were included and those with 100 or more reviews were used in the final count.
- In total about 12,500 lakes have been counted in this study.
About Holidu
Holidu’s mission is to finally make the search and booking of holiday rentals easy. Its search engine for holiday rentals allows travellers to book the ideal accommodation for the lowest price.
The company also helps holiday rental owners multiply their bookings with less work through its software and service solution under the Bookiply brand. The brothers Johannes and Michael Siebers founded Holidu in 2014.
The high-growth startup is headquartered in Munich and has local offices in the most attractive travel destinations in Europe. For more information, see https://www.holidu.co.uk and https://www.bookiply.com.
Follow Holidu on: Twitter www.twitter.com/Holidu Instagram www.instagram.com/holidu Facebook www.facebook.com/holidu Linkedin www.linkedin.com/company/holidu