The Largest Lakes In The United Kingdom

There are many wonderful sights to see in the United Kingdom – from mountains to beaches to quaint little villages.

However, one of the most beautiful parts of the country has to be the various stunning, large lakes situated in all of the constituent countries – England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

In this article, we will take you through some of the largest and most amazing lakes in the United Kingdom that you simply must go and see! If you’re interested, read on for more!

Lakes In The United Kingdom: Fun Facts

Here are some fun facts about lakes in the United Kingdom!

• Some of the prettiest lakes are located in the Lake District of Northern England (which the Romantic poets can attest to!) If you’re planning a trip to the Lake District, read our guide here.
• There are also beautiful lakes you won’t forget located in Snowdon National Park: Wales, and in the Scottish Highlands: Scotland.
• The deepest lake in England is called Lake Wastwater, and it is 79m deep.
• The largest lake in the whole of the UK is Lough Neagh, which can be found in Northern Ireland
• In Scotland and Northern Ireland, lakes are pronounced the same but spelled differently: “Lochs” in Scotland and “Loughs” in Northern Ireland.
• The Welsh word for lake is “Llyn.”
• On Loch Shiel, one of the longest lakes in Scotland, people can take a boat tour to see some of the most wonderful sights in Scotland.

Large Lakes In The United Kingdom: England

There are many wonderful lakes that you can visit in England. However, there are a few that stand out from the crowd. In England, there are 387 lakes that are larger than 5 hectares. Here is a list of the 5 largest that you simply have to see!

1. Bassenthwaite Lake – 2.06 square miles
2. Ullswater – 3.44 square miles
3. Kielder Water – 3.86 square miles
4. Rutland Water – 4.19 square miles
5. Windemere – 5.68 square miles

However, did you know that 4 out of these 5 lakes are technically reservoirs? Now you do! The only other large lake that is actually a reservoir is Lake Vyrnwy in Wales. We think that the prettiest lakes in England are:

• Windermere
• Coniston Water
• Buttermere

All of these lakes can be found in the Lake District in Cumbria (if you want some day trip ideas for the North West, read here).

Large Lakes In The United Kingdom: Wales

Lakes do not make up a large portion of Wales, less than 1% of the total land area. However, there are still plenty of large and beautiful lakes that you need to see the next time you visit! Here are the five largest lakes in Wales!

1. Tal-y-Llyn – 0.34 square miles
2. Llyn Padarn – 0.38 square miles
3. Llyn Cowlyd – 0.42 square miles
4. Llyn Syfaddon – 0.59 square miles
5. Llyn Tegid – 1.87 square miles

Here’s another fun fact! Llyn Tegid, also known as Lake Bala in English, is the biggest lake in Eryri (Snowdonia), and it actually connects to the River Dee which runs all the way through to Chester, England.

It is good to note that the biggest natural lake in South Wales is Llyn Syfaddon, known more commonly as Llangorse Lake.

Large Lakes In The United Kingdom: Scotland

There are around 31,460 freshwater lakes in Scotland, located in large part in the Scottish Highlands. Here are the five largest lakes in all of Scotland!

1. Loch Morar – 10.30 square miles
2. Loch Maree – 11.02 square miles
3. Loch Awe – 14.85 – square miles
4. Loch Ness – 21.78 square miles
5. Loch Lomond – 27.45 square miles

The most beautiful lake in all of Scotland is Loch Lomond, but Loch Ness is a close second. You will likely have heard of Loch Ness and the famous Loch Ness Monster – Nessie.

But, visitors will also be able to explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle, which sits on the lake banks.

Large Lakes In The United Kingdom: Northern Ireland

There are only three lakes in Northern Ireland. However, one of these lakes is the largest in the entire United Kingdom – so it should be at the top of your list of large lakes to see!

This lake, Lough Neagh, is very popular for bird-watching and catching sight of some freshwater eels. Here is a list of the lakes in Northern Ireland and their size by square miles.

1. Upper Lough Erne – 13.30 square miles
2. Lower Lough Erne – 42.28 square miles
3. Lough Neagh – 147.87 square miles

Final Thoughts

The United Kingdom and all of its constituent countries – England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, are home to many large, wonderful lakes.

All of these lakes are well worth a visit – particularly Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Northern Ireland, and the many beautiful lakes in the Lake District, Snowdonia, and the Scottish Highlands.

So, the next time you’re in any of these constituents, be sure to take a trip to a few of these lakes and marvel at them with your own eyes.