Overview

Wimbleball Lake is a large upland reservoir set within Exmoor National Park in Somerset, England. Constructed in the 1970s and completed in 1979, it was created principally as a water supply reservoir to regulate flows into local rivers and to provide public water resources for towns downstream. The lake occupies roughly 374 acres (about 1.51 km²) and stores approximately 21,000 megalitres of water.

Engineering and water management

The reservoir is impounded by a substantial 161-foot (49 m) high dam formed as a concrete structure that uses a buttress design to hold back the flow of the River Haddeo. Stored water can be released to maintain downstream levels in the River Exe, particularly during low-flow periods, allowing abstraction at supply works serving Tiverton and Exeter. Hydrological monitoring and environmental studies have examined how flow regulation affects river ecology and water availability.

Recreation and facilities

Wimbleball is a regional centre for outdoor activity and leisure. The shoreline and surrounding hills are managed for public access and recreational use, with an on-site Outdoor + Active Centre offering tuition, hire and safety supervision. Visitors can take part in activities such as sailing, windsurfing, rowing and canoeing, or launch privately owned boats when permitted. The area is popular with walkers, anglers, birdwatchers and cyclists who travel the circular cycle route that largely follows bridleways and quiet lanes.

Landscape, habitats and wildlife

The setting around the reservoir combines upland moor, managed woodland and open grassland. These habitats support a mix of freshwater and terrestrial species typical of Exmoor, including game and wildfowl, coarse fish and a range of songbirds and raptors. Management seeks to balance recreational use with habitat protection and water quality, and local conservation projects monitor species and vegetation around the shore and riparian corridors.

Dark skies and cultural significance

Exmoor has an international reputation for dark skies and was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve, making the area around Wimbleball attractive to astronomers and night-sky enthusiasts. The lake and adjacent car parks are sometimes promoted as suitable places for stargazing and nature interpretation, with seasonal programmes and informal events that introduce visitors to nocturnal wildlife and astronomy.

Practical notes and notable facts

  • The reservoir was completed in 1979 and remains a key element of local water infrastructure.
  • Facilities on site support both organised tuition and independent visitors; hiring equipment is commonly available from the activity centre.
  • Access for watercraft is managed to protect safety and ecology; check local guidance before visiting.
  • Ongoing research into river flow regulation documents ecological responses downstream and informs reservoir operating practices.

For more information on visiting, water management and conservation work at Wimbleball consult official guides and local information services provided by bodies associated with Exmoor National Park, regional water authorities and the local outdoor centre. Additional practical details and seasonal events can be found through visitor information links related to Somerset and the local towns of Tiverton and Exeter.

Related topics and resources: reservoir operations, the engineering of the dam and its buttress design, construction materials such as concrete, river systems like the River Exe, and recreational provisions including the on-site recreation programmes and activity offerings covering sailing, windsurfing, rowing and the circular cycle route that runs through woodland and grassland.