Whether you’re seeking culture, adventure or nature, or simply some rest and relaxation, the stunning lakes and waterways of the UK always deliver. Linking towns and cities with remote corners of the countryside, touring near water is an exciting way to combine rural and urban areas. The same can be said for Britain’s storied canal system, boasting an impressive 2700 miles of connected waterways – simply follow along in your campervan!
As for the nation’s stunning lakes, these are often to be found among the dreamiest of landscapes, with everything from the lush Welsh wilderness to the misty mountains of the Scottish Highlands to be discovered. As anyone who has visited any of the best seaside destinations in Britain will know, few things compare to being by water and taking in breathtaking views.
Here, we’ve a round-up of some of the UK’s most interesting and picturesque bodies of water. We also reveal fantastic sites to stay at nearby!
Ullswater
- Cumbria, England
Whether you’ve explored the Lake District while embarking on a road trip or just visited a certain part of it, you will be aware of just what a stunning area it is.
The better-known, 11-mile long Windermere easily triumphs as England’s largest lake. Yet Ullswater, its slightly smaller neighbour, is often voted the most beautiful.
What makes this seven-mile lake so easy on the eye has to be its stunning backdrop of undulating lowland and fells as the waters stretch from Pooley Bridge village southwards to Glenridding, all tucked up in the north-eastern corner of the Lake District.
You can immediately see why William Wordsworth fell for its charms. Walking with his wife on a sunny April day in 1802, they spotted a spread of yellow blooms along the banks of the lake – a sight that inspired his beloved poem, ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’.
Today, following a 20-mile route through woodland and fields makes it possible for visitors to retrace the footsteps of the great poet. But those who have a head for heights can also enjoy the lake’s spectacular good looks when descending Kirkstone Pass or climbing Hallin Fell.
Stay at: The Quiet Site, a campsite we’ve picked out as one of the best campervan sites in the Lake District
River Thames
- Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and London (among others), England
London would not be the great city it is today without the River Thames. A defining feature of the English capital, the river’s banks are replete with high-profile landmarks, from Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye to Shakespeare’s Globe and Kew Gardens.
River cruises and high-speed boat rides make exploring the city by water a thrilling option for visitors keen to see it from a new perspective, while the riverside pubs and restaurants offer a gentler way to take in the sights.
Events also abound here, such as the annual Boat Race and the glorious New Year’s Eve fireworks.
With so much happening, it’s no wonder the London stretch gets pretty much all the attention. But at 215 miles long, the river offers far more than city life. Following the Thames from its source in the Cotswolds opens up encounters with water meadows, pastoral scenes, and ancient towns and villages.
Stay at: Abbey Wood CAMC Site (London)
Grand Union Canal
- London and the Midlands (among others), England
The backbone of the UK’s major canal network, this 200-year-old link between London and Birmingham is, at 137 miles, the nation’s longest. Never built as one entity, it is an amalgamation of several different independent waterways.
From its start in the Thames, it courses through the Chiltern Hills, rural Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, before reaching its final destination.
Along the route, the waterway bustles with walkers, pleasure boats, cyclists and anglers, and many smaller branches offer interesting diversions, such as the Leicester Line or the Aylesbury Arm.
But engineering feats are in abundance along the main route, including the dramatic span of the Iron Trunk Aqueduct – a magnificent Georgian structure that carries the canal over the River Great Ouse – and the steeply climbing Hatton Locks in the charming Warwickshire countryside.
Stay at: Somers Wood Caravan Park (near Coventry) – it’s also a site which will leave you perfectly placed if you want to visit the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC too.
River Tay
- The Highlands and Perthshire (among others), Scotland
Despite being only the seventh longest river in the UK, the Tay is easily the mightiest, as it carries more water than the Thames and the Severn combined.
What the river is probably best known for, though, is its salmon. After all, Georgina Ballantine holds the British record for landing the biggest rod-caught salmon (a 64-pounder) from these waters in 1922.
There are plenty of chances to try your hand at fishing, as the Tay begins its journey in the Scottish Highlands before moving eastwards. Particularly scenic sections are around Kenmore, Aberfeldy and Dunkeld, a pretty, historic town that is surrounded by lush woodland.
Before opening up into the North Sea, the Tay passes through the city of Perth, with its architectural delights and intriguing royal history, as well as Dundee, now boasting an ever-growing waterfront quarter.
Stay at: Milton of Fonab Caravan Park (Pitlochry)
Loch Lomond
- Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire, Scotland
No list of Britain’s best lakes would be complete without Loch Lomond. Falling on the Highland Boundary Fault Line, the 24-mile long lake separates the Lowlands from the rugged, mountainous peaks of the Scottish Highlands.
Trails along the eastern edge form part of the iconic West Highland Way, challenging hikers to conquer the 3196ft high Ben Lomond for an elevated perspective. However, walks such as the bankside route from Balmaha to Milarrochy Bay provide less challenging – but similarly rewarding – alternatives.
Water exploration is another great attraction here, with no fewer than 22 islands and 27 islets awaiting discovery via boat, kayak, canoe or paddle board.
Look out for Inchlonaig, host to yew trees first grown during the 14th century to make bows and arrows for use in battle, as well as the wallabies which have roamed free on Inchconnachan Island since being introduced there in the 1940s.
Stay at: Lomond Woods
Kennet & Avon Canal
- Berkshire, Wiltshire and Somerset, England
A giant round of applause goes to the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust for restoring this 87-mile link between London and Bristol, after it fell into disrepair in the 1960s.
Now reminiscent of its glory days in the early 1800s, the restored canal enables narrowboats and the like to explore some of southern England’s finest under-the-radar offerings, from Berkshire’s tranquil Aldermaston Wharf and historic market towns of Newbury and Hungerford, to idyllic Wiltshire villages such as Great Bedwyn and Devizes, with medieval buildings, Norman remains and the impressive Caen Hill flight of 29 locks.
Also not to be missed are the Georgian stone terraces of Bradford-upon-Avon and the regal Roman spa town of Bath. From here, the canal navigates through the jaw-dropping Avon Gorge before reaching the cultural highlights of Bristol.
Stay at: Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park (Bishop Sutton), a site which was named one of the best motorhome campsites in our Top 100 Sites Guide 2025.
River Teifi
- Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, Wales
Any river with its source in the region known as the Green Desert of Wales is destined for great things, as clearly proven by the 73-mile-long River Teifi.
Beginning life in the Teifi Pools – a stunning group of six lakes and reservoirs in east Ceredigion – the water trickles down the peaceful Cambrian Mountains, building momentum as it passes through the wooded Teifi Valley and becomes a route of passage for salmon and wild trout.
Cascading over the falls at Cenarth, the river passes the 13th-century Old Mill, marking a patch particularly favoured by fly fishers. The next notable point on the Teifi’s journey are the twin towers of Cilgerran Castle, rising on its western banks.
Less than four miles further, on the other side of the river, awaits magnificent Cardigan Castle. The Teifi passes through its bridge to join Cardigan Bay. Those with a thirst for waterborne action will adore the white water rafting opportunities also provided near this stretch of the river.
Stay at: Argoed Meadow (Cenarth)
Llyn Tegid
- Gwynedd, Wales
With Eryri (Snowdonia) to the north and the Berwyn Mountains to the east, the 3.5-mile-long Llyn Tegid is a winner when it comes to dramatic backdrops.
Not only a popular spot for canoeing, sailing and windsurfing (basically anything that isn’t motor-powered), the lake is also a must-visit for fishing enthusiasts, owing to the 14 different species of fish lurking in its depths.
One species must not be caught, however, and that is the endangered Gwyniad, while according to legend, there’s also a monster, named Teggie, residing in the lake. A steam train ride on the Llyn Tegid railway offers the perfect chance to spot this dinosaur-like creature, as the track borders the lake’s edge!
Stay at: Pen Y Bont Touring Park
Trent & Mersey Canal
- Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire, England
Anyone with even the slightest interest in pottery will find following this 93-mile cross-country canal in the North Midlands worth their while.
After all, Josiah Wedgwood championed the canal’s construction in the 1760s, because it provided a way to safely export goods from his Stoke-on-Trent factory, as well as import clay from the West Country.
Stroke-on-Trent’s pottery district is not the only heritage-rich place to see en route. There is also the 1.6-mile long Harecastle Tunnel, the towering Anderton Boat Lift (nicknamed the Cathedral of the Canals), and the 12-mile section known as Heartbreak Hill, owing to its long flight of 31 locks.
The scenery around this part of England is pretty good as well. One particularly lively area is Fradley Junction, where the waterway converges with the Northampton Canal. There are cafés, cottages, pubs, leafy walks and Fradley Pool Nature Reserve to enjoy.
Stay at: Manor Wood Country Caravan Park (Coddington)
Lough Neagh
- Counties Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone and Londonderry, Northern Ireland
In Irish folklore, the legendary giant Finn McCool (of Giant’s Causeway fame) is said to have scooped up a piece of land to lob at his enemy, the Scottish giant Benandonner. The clump of earth fell into the Irish Sea to form the Isle of Man, and the crater left behind filled with water to create Lough Neagh.
Located just 20 miles west of Belfast, the lake is the largest in the UK, and ripples with heritage and history. Charming villages and centuries-old castles are dotted around the edge, with some locations serving as backdrops in the TV series Game of Thrones, making it an ideal location for TV and film lovers.
Foodies will find much to enjoy in the area, too, with locally brewed cider, classic Irish bread and eel delicacies fresh from the lake among the many culinary delights to be sampled.
Birdwatchers and nature-lovers will also be in heaven, especially at the Oxford Island Nature Reserve.
Stay at: Six Mile Water Caravan Park (Antrim)
River Lagan
- County Down to Belfast, Northern Ireland
This 54-mile-long river may weave its way through some of the most industrialised sections of Northern Ireland, but it still has its fair share of natural beauty.
For one thing, it materialises as a small yet swift stream in Slieve Croob mountain, part of County Down’s spectacular Dromara Hills. It then forms the spine of the verdant Lagan Valley Regional Park, a glorious patchwork of parks, woodland, meadows and demesnes.
Kayakers, canoeists and paddleboarders all use this part of the river, even in the colder winter months, while walkers roam along the towpath. A few riverside bars and restaurants border the Lagan as it enters Belfast and divides the city in two, merging with the busy shipping port of Belfast Lough (also home to a very popular RSPB nature reserve) before joining the Irish Sea.
Stay at: Windsor Holiday Park (Newcastle)
Forth & Clyde Canal
- Central Lowlands, Scotland
The first canal to be constructed in Scotland, this 35-mile waterway opened in 1790 in order to transport materials between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The 1960s was not a brilliant decade for canals in Britain, and the Forth & Clyde was yet another casualty of the era. But by the millennium, campaigning to reopen a fully regenerated canal had paid off.
Then in 2002, the Falkirk Wheel opened. Providing a link to the Union Canal, this showstopper of an attraction is the world’s only rotating boat lift.
Another unmissable sight, towering over the canal, is The Kelpies, a pair of 100ft-high horse head sculptures.
Whether you are walking on the towpath or following by campervan, the canal is a wonderful way to see two great Scottish cities and the rural landscapes in between.
Stay at: Red Deer Village Holiday Park (Glasgow)
Loe Pool
- Cornwall, England
Heading to Cornwall for a tour? Then it could be worth planning a trip to the stunning Loe Pool. There’s rather more to this 1.2-mile lake than meets the eye. With a strip of golden shingle, known as Loe Bar, separating the body of water from the ocean, it’s an undeniably picturesque sight. But the lake’s origins remain something of a mystery.
Anecdotal reports suggest the area was once a harbour for the nearby town of Helston, before a terrible storm threw up so much sand and stone, the bar was formed. But geologists can’t find any evidence to support these claims. Actually, they have discovered that Loe Bar is mostly made up of chalk flint, when there are no flint sources in the surrounding area.
Regardless of how the lake formed, a six-mile walk around its wildlife-rich perimeter is the best way to take in its beauty – swimming is best avoided, owing to the long, thick weeds that grow in its depths. There’s a memorial to the wreck of HMS Anson along the way, too.
Stay at: Silver Sands, a campsite that was named one of the best motorhome sites in Cornwall in our Top 100 Sites Guide 2025.
River Wharfe
- Yorkshire, England
A highlight of the spectacular Yorkshire Dales, the 65-mile Wharfe weaves its way through moors, valleys and ancient woodland, offering scenic adventures galore.
Making this river particularly special are the gentle waterfalls of Mill Scar Lash, as well as the more thunderous Linton Falls and The Strid, a wonderfully lively section where the Wharfe narrows among ancient oaks.
It also happens to be close to the giant country playground of Bolton Abbey, a 12th-century monastic estate.
But that’s not all. Another striking feature are the miles of drystone walls that criss-cross the river’s rolling landscapes. Stone-built villages punctuate the view, too, such as Kettlewell, with its limestone terraces, Grassington, with a cobbled market square, and the spa town of Ilkley, home to the biggest cycling club in the UK and replete with biking opportunities.
Stay at: St Helena’s Caravan Park (Horsforth)
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
- Monmouthshire and Powys, Wales
Affectionately known as the ‘Mon & Brec’, this canal never fails to win over visitors. But nothing less could be expected from a waterway that runs for most of its 35 miles through the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.
Distinguishing features of the Mon & Brec include the green, leafy trees flanking its banks, where colourful wildflowers also bloom. As the canal is not connected to any other network, these waters are extremely quiet and peaceful – you’re likely to see more wildlife than people around here.
Yet the journey from Brecon to Pontymoile Basin is not without its reminders of the great industrial heritage of Wales. For example, in many places, it’s possible to see the tramways that once brought coal, limestone and iron ore down to the canal wharves for loading onto the barges.
Stay at: Glen Trothy Caravan Park (Monmouth)
If you prefer exploring on two wheels when you pitch up instead, don’t miss our pick of the best campervan sites for cyclists either.
After some more inspiration for where to go for a longer campervan getaway? Then head to our Go Campervanning: Longer Getaways section for more great ideas!
Lead image: Getty Images
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