Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, just off the A30
Colliford Lake
Reservoir
Place photograph
7.2
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Paid
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.2Cornwall’s largest inland water spreads across 900 acres of Bodmin Moor. Its scale is only part of the appeal: waymarked walks lead through open moorland, while the Kerdroya labyrinth brings the craft of Cornish hedging into view above the lake.
Colliford is a big, open-water landscape with a strong sense of Bodmin Moor around it. Three waymarked walks and the stone-built Kerdroya labyrinth give visitors more to do than simply admire the reservoir, while the lakeside nature reserve adds a significant wildlife story from beyond its public boundary.
Peaceful · Big-sky · Wild
Find your way
Open mapBodmin Moor, Cornwall, just off the A30
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
Choose a waymarked lakeside walk for open views over the reservoir and neighbouring moorland, then visit Kerdroya for a closer look at Cornish hedging craftsmanship. Do not plan to walk around the entire lake: sections are blocked by private land and a nature reserve.
Things to do
Follow a waymarked lakeside walk
Choose from three waymarked walks with views of Colliford Lake and neighbouring moorland. The whole lake cannot be circumnavigated because of private land and a nature reserve.
Explore the Kerdroya labyrinth
Follow the 750-metre winding path through a 56-metre-wide labyrinth made using traditional Cornish stone-hedging techniques. From its centre, look out over the lake and surrounding moorland.
Watch for seasonal birdlife
The South West Lakes Trust notes winter visits from wigeon, goldeneye, golden plover, lapwing and snipe, and summer feeding activity by swifts, swallows, house martins and sand martins. The nature reserve is not open to the public; observe from areas where access is permitted.
Take a picnic
Use the lakeside picnic areas as a pause during a walk or as a simple way to spend time in the open moorland setting.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 1–2 hours
A lakeside walk and moorland views
- 01
Start from the South West Lakes Trust car park.
- 02
Choose one of the three waymarked walks and enjoy views of the lake and neighbouring moorland.
- 03
Use the picnic area for a pause, then return by the same walk or follow the waymarking as indicated.
Half day · Half day
Walk, picnic and explore Kerdroya
- 01
Begin with a waymarked walk beside the reservoir.
- 02
Pause at one of the picnic areas.
- 03
Visit Kerdroya and follow its 750-metre winding path into the 56-metre-wide labyrinth.
- 04
Take in the lake and moorland view from the labyrinth before returning.
Verified history
The supplied sources establish that Colliford is a 900-acre reservoir and that Kerdroya is a land-art project celebrating Cornish hedging. The South West Lakes Trust describes the labyrinth as built using traditional stone-hedging techniques by local father-and-son team Thomas and Gary Thrussell. A construction date or fuller reservoir history is not established by the supplied research.
Folklore & legend
No specific local legend about Colliford Lake is evidenced in the supplied sources. The nearby Jamaica Inn is described by the South West Lakes Trust as a famous smugglers’ haunt immortalised by Daphne du Maurier; this is contextual history, not evidence of a lake legend.
Hidden details
Kerdroya’s route to its centre — The labyrinth is not just a pattern to view from outside: its 750-metre winding path leads to the centre, where the broad view of Colliford Lake and the surrounding moorland opens up.
The lake is not a complete circuit walk — Do not assume the reservoir can be walked all the way around. South West Lakes Trust says private land and a nature reserve prevent a full circuit; the reserve is not open to the public.
When to go
April · May · June · July · August · September · October · No specific time of day is established by the supplied sources. For birdwatching, allow time to watch from publicly accessible areas and check local conditions.
The source row recommends late spring and early autumn for milder weather and walking, and the South West Lakes Trust identifies different birdlife in winter and summer. Exact peak weeks are not established.
This is an open moorland reservoir setting. Check the forecast and walking conditions before setting out; the supplied sources do not provide detailed weather or path-condition guidance.
Worth pairing with
Jamaica Inn
The South West Lakes Trust places the famous inn a couple of miles south of Colliford Lake and notes its association with Daphne du Maurier’s novel. It is a plausible nearby history-and-literature pairing; check opening and visitor information separately.
What to look for
- 01
At Kerdroya, notice how the 56-metre labyrinth is built using traditional Cornish stone-hedging techniques. From its centre, look across the lake and surrounding moorland. In winter, watch for wigeon, goldeneye, golden plover, lapwing and snipe
- 02
the nature reserve itself is not open to the public.
The story
Modern reservoir landscape; Cornish hedging and land art at Kerdroya.
Best time to go
Late spring to early autumn for milder walking conditions; winter can bring notable birdlife.
Late spring to early autumn is a good starting point for walking. In winter, look out for visiting wildfowl; the South West Lakes Trust also describes summer swifts, swallows, house martins and sand martins feeding over the water.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers · Families
Practical information
Opening & access
South West Lakes Trust describes lakeside walks, picnic areas and car parking. The lake cannot be walked all the way around because of a nature reserve and private land; parts of the nature reserve are not open to the public. Check current access information before setting out.
Check before visiting
Parking
Car parking is available. South West Lakes Trust lists charges of £2 for one hour, £3 for three hours and £6 for a full day; check current prices before visiting.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
No on-site café or pub is confirmed by the supplied sources. Picnic areas are available; check nearby food options before travelling.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Dogs are not permitted on the dam. Check current signage and reserve guidance for other areas.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The source row says wheelchair access may be limited by natural terrain, but the supplied sources do not confirm an accessible route. Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Paid
Water
Reservoir
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Colliford Lake
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
