Somerset-SUP
Paddleboarding-Wimbleball Lake
Wimbleball Lake, Somerset
Surrounded by the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park, this beautifully situated reservoir offers plenty of opportunities for exploring, with waterside camping and a café nearby. The lake is a wildlife hotspot, and you’ll glimpse a range of wildfowl on the water, iconic Exmoor red deer browsing on the lakeside, and, if you’re lucky, a very special butterfly. The small pearl-bordered fritillary, which is orange and brown with white pearl markings and black chevrons on its hind wing, may be spotted around the northern arm of the lake beyond Bessom Bridge. Apart from wildlife watching, the Activity Centres offers a range of water sports with tuition from qualified instructors and equipment hire, or you can launch your own craft. There is also a network of paths and cycleways around the lake. Wimbleball is a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site with telescopes for hire. Stay at the campsite here and on clear nights you’ll witness the amazing starry skies of Exmoor, Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, and possibly catch sight of the brown, long-eared bat.
Route map:
Full route details: Read our book Paddleboarding South West England for full description,
Access restrictions Self-launching costs £9/craft/day; third party insurance required; book online https://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/book-your-holiday. To paddle outside of the rescue area or recue coverage times you must adopt a buddy system
Starting point Wimbleball Lake Activity Centre, Dulverton TA22 9NU. Grid ref. SS 9688 3079 (51.0671, -3.4731)
Launching Pontoon/beach 150m walk from car park
Parking next to Activity Centre
Pitstops Great coffee and delicious homemade millionaire’s shortbread adjacent to campsite, Coffee Couture, tel. 01398 371460
Lessons, hire Wimbleball Lake Activity Centre, tel. 01566 771930
Getting there From Minehead, head E on A39 to Washford Cross, turn R on B3190 towards Bampton, then after B3224 turn R, signed Wimbleball.
Special points No mobile phone signal anywhere on the lake; use the buddy system.
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