Places to see
Kielder
This spectacular expanse of Kielder Water & Forest Park, with its twenty seven mile shoreline encompassed by pine forest and heather moorland, offers you a truly stunning location for an away from it all holiday or day trip. Facilities and attractions designed for all ages ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy.On the shore, Leaplish Waterside Park boasts panoramic views stretching over the lake and forest to the border hills beyond. The Scandinavian style lodges and Lakeside restaurant provide the perfect base to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful, unspoilt landscape. Tucked away on the south side of the lake, Leaplish Waterside Park houses a number of attractions and accommodation facilities making it an ideal base for visitors and holidaymakers alike.
An unrivalled range of outdoor pursuits are available in the local area in addition to the miles of walking and cycling trails, a superb way to observe the area's abundant flora and fauna, with red squirrel, roe deer, otter and osprey to name but a few. With such a vast expanse of water, Kielder is also a very popular destination for fisherman eager to test their skills in this beauty spot. Also on site is the Kielder Water Sailing Club.
Catcleugh
Close to the Scottish border on the A68, Catcleugh is a major source of water for Tyneside. This remote site has a nature reserve at the northern end of the lake.
Colt Crag
Surrounded by coniferous woodland, Colt Crag is bordered along part of its south shore by a bridleway. This gives access for walkers and birdwatchers, although access from the A68 is poor due to the nature of the road at this point. A small fishing club stocks the water.
Fontburn
Fontburn lies six miles south of Rothbury in a fold in the Simonside hills. The adjacent Simonside hills provide a scenic woodland backdrop amidst the Northumberland National Park. The reservoir is a popular trout fishery with its own stocked fishing lodge on site which is equipped with everything you need for your enjoyable day out. The nature reserve at the head of the lake is surrounded by broad-leaved woodland and is frequented by a variety of birds. There is a footpath along the southern shore which links with a longer way marked route across Leighton Moor and the neighbouring National Trust land.
Hallington
Lying between the villages of Colwell and Hallington the lake is split into two halves by a causeway. It forms part of the aqueduct transfer system from Catcleugh to Whittle Dene. The only vehicular access is along a private road, from the B6342, but an unsurfaced public 'green lane' crosses a causeway over the reservoir at its north east end. The lake is surrounded by mature trees and has a wide variety of wildlife.
Whittle Dene
Straddling the Military Road (B6318) eleven miles west of Newcastle are seven small lakes at Whittle Dene. Hadrian Wall’s National Trail runs directly through the complex alongside the Great Northern Reservoir where a viewing and resting point with picnic area is provided. The Great Northern is designated as a Nature Reserve due to its importance as a home for water loving birds, such as Wigeon, Grebes and Tufted Duck. The Northern, Lower and Southern lakes are coarse fisheries which contains a variety of wild fish.
Balderhead
High in the upper reaches of Baldersdale to the west of Barnard Castle, in Teesdale, Balderhead is surrounded by open moorland with typical dale farms and heather grouse moors. The lake is home to Balderhead water ski club.
Blackton
Close to the Pennine Way, beautiful Blackton nestles between Balderhead and Hury lakes in Teesdale. It has a nature reserve with bird hide and a lovely walk around its shores. It is also a popular trout fishery.
Burnhope
Burnhope lies at the head of Weardale near the villages of Ireshopeburn and Wearhead. Although high in the hills, the water is surrounded by woodland and a wooded footpath runs along both sides of the lake. A newly constructed accessible trail meanders through the trees along the whole length of the north shore and offers tremendous views of the lake. At the head of the lake the trail crosses Burnhope Burn where there is a picnic area. This trail is suitable for push chairs and wheelchairs and there are accessible toilets on site. The lake is leased to a private angling club.
Cow Green
Spread over a shallow basin in the upper reaches of Teesdale, Cow Green is encircled by the Pennine Moors. This is the highest of our lakes and it offers stunning views of the surrounding Pennine moorland. Widdybank Fell on the north eastern shore is a National Nature Reserve managed by Natural England. There is a footpath around the water which links to the Pennine Way. The lake also has one of the finest brown trout populations in England. Cow Green at the head of Teesdale is in wonderful and dramatic walking country. The area supports rare alpine flora and the lake is a wild brown trout fishery.
Derwent
The rolling hills between Weardale and Northumberland, provide the setting for Derwent reservoir, which is the second largest reservoir in the north east. View the scenery from the dam, have a family picnic or enjoy a walk along the south shore from the dam along to Pow Hill Country Park. It is situated just north of Edmundbyers and is not far from both Consett and Durham. There are three excellent picnic sites to choose from around the water. Derwent is our most popular fishery and after one visit it will be easy to see why. The fishing lodge on site provides all of the items that you may need for an enjoyable day out.
Also on site is the Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club which provides a fantastic environment in which to enjoy and improve your sailing, whether you are a complete novice or an experienced competitor.
Grassholme
Grassholme built in 1915, enjoys a beautiful setting in Lunedale, surrounded by a landscape of buttercup meadows criss-crossed by dry stone walls and punctuated by stone barns. Grassholme is entirely surrounded by grassland and moorland with small pockets of woodland. The circular footpath runs around the lake and gives spectacular views across the dale. Grassholme is a very scenic spot for fishing and is the most visited of the Teesdale reservoirs. The addition of the new visitor centre and fishing lodge has helped make Grassholme a popular destination for day trippers. The staffed visitor centre displays a hands on exhibition detailing recreational opportunities and the current conservation initiatives in the area. The tearoom provides a welcome refreshment stop for your day out.
Also on site, is the Teesdale Sailing Club. The club enjoys 140 acres of excellent sailing water amidst beautiful countryside that has been designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Hisehope, Smiddy Shaw and Waskerley
Close to Consett and high up on open moorland lie Hisehope, Smiddy Shaw and Waskerley reservoirs. Hisehope and Smiddy Shaw are let to a local angling club. Waskerley is surrounded by privately managed grouse moors, but there is a small picnic and parking area with an information board by the water's edge. The water is also leased to a local angling club, but some day tickets are available each day for the public.
Hury
Hury, like its neighbouring four lakes in the Balder and Lune dales, enjoys a pastoral setting. It is situated in Baldersdale, north west of Barnard Castle and west of Romaldkirk. It is the oldest of the five reservoirs in the Tees Valley and it is a haven for wildlife. An attractive path runs along the north shore where fingers of broadleaved woodland extend down the gills of the water’s edge.
Selset
Lying in the upper valley of the River Lune to the west of Barnard Castle, Selset is surrounded by the rolling Durham Pennines. It has a rough moorland walking route that can be followed along its southern shore.
Tunstall
The beauty of this smaller lake lies in the stunning combination of sparkling water set against a dramatic background of tree lined hills. North of Wolsingham, Tunstall lies in the pastoral and verdant Waskerley Beck. There is a nature reserve at the northern end of the lake and due to its conservational importance, leisure activities on this lake are restricted. A small club leases the fishing rights. The circular walk, which begins at the car park and takes you along the western shore, across the nature reserve, through woodland and back to the car park. On your walk you should see a variety of birds as well as common butterflies in the surrounding grasslands.
Lockwood
One of our smallest waters, Lockwood nestles amidst woodland on the fringe of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, next to the A171 east of Guisborough. It has a beautiful walk that encircles the shoreline and is a perfect spot for a stroll. The lake is operated as a private fishery, with day and season permits available and fishing boats for hire.
Scaling Dam
Also adjacent to the A171 Guisborough to Whitby road, Scaling has much to offer. A lovely path and a bridleway for walking, a picnic site, a nature reserve with birdwatching from a bird hide and a sailing club. It is also a very popular trout fishery.