Upper Tamar Lake - Kilkhampton, Bude

Pauline (Dennis) Blackford

You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.

Set in beautiful Cornish countryside, this varied walk, which mainly follows round a huge recreational lake, has something for everyone and is highly recommended to be explored by all fitnesses and ages.

The walk starts from the small car park by the entrance to the road up to the dam. The Upper Lake is a large reservoir with sailing, fishing and other amenities. After passing through a little coppice and meadow, a short path takes us down into a small, wooded valley where it crosses a wooden bridge to a field that leads up to the dam. Now we follow a wide grassy path along the bank of the lake. After a few hundred metres, the path swings right to follow the bank of an arm of the lake. Further on, the path goes into woodland and crosses a wooden bridge where a stream enters the lake. After continuing through woodland the path reaches the main lake again and continues along its bank to the end. Here the path again enters woodland and crosses another wooden bridge where a second stream enters the lake.

Returning along the other side of the lake, the path leaves the woodland and continues along the grassy bank. As you near the sailing club, there is a detour through woods and a meadow, or, carry on along the bank to the centre. From the centre, a couple of hundred metres of road takes us to a path into a meadow and back through the coppice to the car park.

For those who want a longer walk, or mixed parties who want different lengths of walks: when returning to the car park, join the Lower Tamar Lake, Walk 4812, which adds another 2km as it visits the two lower lakes which are nature reserves. From here, you can also join the Bude Aqueduct Trail which follows the route of the old canal to Bude, ten miles away.

England - South West England - Cornwall - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Lake/Loch, Mostly Flat, Nature Trail, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

6/25/2022 - Serena Graham

Pay and Display - only two options, £2.50 for 2 hours, £5.00 all-day. A pleasant circular walk around the lake, mostly flat, just one or two very slight undulations - plenty of places to take five if necessary or simply to enjoy the views. Hardcore path all the way around, ideal for wide choice of visitors including wheelchairs, pushchairs etc. Spotlessly clean, no litter, dog mess etc. Enjoyed at a steady pace with the dog stopping to take a few pics - approx 90 mins. Would up the star rating to 5 if the cafe had been open (as advertised) and car park was either free or cheaper given that 2 hours leaves you feeling like you would have to race round but you know you won't need all day.

11/8/2018 - Derek Smith

The small parking place at the start of the walk is padlocked closed and hasn't been used for some time. Instead use the pay-and-display car park at the end of the lane by the dam and summer café and start a 3 mile walk from there. £2.00 for two hours or £4.00 all day. The hard cycle path is much improved. Grass has now taken root among the compacted path chippings, and some sections of the path are covered in rotting leaf-mould.

10/28/2012 - Dick Glover

The walk around Upper Tamar Lake has been converted into a cycle track. This means the surface is hard all the way - tough on feet and ankles!