Watersport Activities at Roadford Lake
There are endless watersport adventures to be had at Roadford Lake, with one of the largest inland waters in the South West. Just five minutes off the A30, closely located to the Devon and Cornwall border between Launceston and Okehampton, you will find the stunning Roadford Lake Reservoir.
Roadford Lake is a man-made reservoir which holds an impressive 8,140 million gallons of water when full. The board outside the Lakeside Café informs us that this is equivalent to over 145 billion cups of tea! With all that water, aside from taking in the beautiful countryside setting with its Dartmoor backdrop, what else is there to do?
There are a wide range of activities suitable for all abilities and ages at the Roadford Lake Activity Centre. Whether you’re visiting for the day or you’re staying in one of our lodges, there’s something for everyone!
Kayaking
Kayaking is a fun activity for anyone over the age of 8, which involves moving through water whilst seated in a small vessel with the help of a double-bladed paddle. It’s a sport that is not as hard to learn as you may think, many people only need a few basic skills to paddle effectively. With a range of lessons available at the Roadford Lake Activity Centre, your instructor will help you learn the basics such as getting into and out of a kayak, paddling using a forward stroke and turning your vessel using a sweep stroke.
‘Have a go’ kayaking sessions at Roadford Lake start from £32. As detailed on the South West Lakes website, this covers the use of wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets. We recommend you book in advance to avoid any disappointment on the day.
If you’re already familiar with Kayaking and own your own vessel, the prices to self-launch from the Activity Centre start from £9.
Canoeing
Canoeing is more of a leisure sport and the perfect way to explore the lake with the whole family. In a canoe, you use a single-bladed paddle to move forward, either in a solo or a tandem boat, which can hold up to 3 people. Canoes are fun for all the family, even the little ones, and offer a great way to explore Roadford Lake in comfort and take in the peaceful surroundings.
Canoe hire at Roadford Lake Activity Centre starts from just £25
Paddleboarding
Stand up paddle boarding is a fun way to enjoy a day out on the water, plus the added benefit of a full body workout! It’s considered to be one of the easier water sports to learn and is open to paddlers of all sizes and ages.
Because you stand at full height on the board, you get an excellent view across the water and out onto the horizon.
Paddleboard hire at Roadford Lake starts from £16.
Roadford Lake Activity Centre also offers a Mega SUP, a giant paddleboard for families to enjoy a group session out on the lake, fitting up to 8 people at a time. There is limited availability with the Mega SUP and we recommend you book in advance. Hire of the Mega SUP starts from £50.
Sailing
Sailing is a fun sport for the whole family. What could be better than being out on the calm, open lake feeling the Dartmoor breeze on your face and the gentle motions of the boat as it glides through the water?
The Activity Centre offers 3 different sail types for hire – picos, fevas and visions.
Pico hire starts from £20 – Sailing experience equivalent to RYA Stage 2 or Level 1 required.
Feva hire starts from £29 – Sailing experience equivalent to RYA Stage 3 or Level 1 required.
Vision hire starts from £20 – Sailing experience equivalent to RYA Stage 4 or Level 2 required.
In order to sail at Roadford Lake, you must meet a minimum competency level which will need to be provided on arrival at the Activity Centre.
Fancy a challenge? Enrol onto one of the RYA courses at Roadford Lake Sailing Club. We hold several courses throughout the year, teaching the basics of sailing dinghies with qualified instructors in a fun and most importantly, safe environment. RYA courses are recognised qualifications that not only teach you how to sail, but also allow you to develop valuable personal skills such as teamwork, strong communication, confidence and creative problem solving.
RYA 2-day courses start from £170 per person, which includes all logbooks and certificates.
Windsurfing
Does all of the above sound a little too tame and you’re looking for more of a thrilling adventure? You can try windsurfing at Roadford Lake. Glide across the water with the wind as your driving force, there’s something euphoric about the way the wind and water connects you to nature here at Roadford Lake.
Windsurf hire starts from £23 and again, you must meet a minimum competency level for windsurfing which will need to be provided on arrival at the Roadford Lake Activity Centre.
Self-Launch
Already a keen adventurer when it comes to water sports and have your own kit? Roadford Lake welcomes you to launch your own equipment on the lake in a safe and controlled environment. Please note that third party insurance is required when launching your own equipment on the lake, and there are certain criteria to meet depending on your chosen sport.
Kayak/Canoe/SUP self-launch starts at £9 per craft, per day
Windsurf self-launch starts from £10 per craft, per day
Dinghy self-launch starts from £12.50 per craft, per day
For luxury lodge owners at Roadford Lake Lodges, it is worth noting that you can become a member of South West Lakes to enjoy Roadford Lake and other SW Lake sites, with preferential member rates and added benefits.
Becoming a South West member includes:
· Free parking at all SW Lakes’ sites
· Unlimited Launch
· Option to launch at all 5 SW Lakes activity centres
· 10% off equipment hire and courses
· 20% off in the Roadford Café
· 10% off in the Lakeside Gift Shop
Launch membership is available annually and you can join with a family membership, couples membership, individual or concession, meaning you can choose the best package for you and your requirements.
Family Launch membership includes up to 6 people from the same household.
Roadford Lake Lodges
Owning a holiday home at Roadford Lake Lodges for the family to enjoy all year round allows you to open a door to new opportunities, with water sports activities right on your doorstep. Browse our luxury holiday lodges for sale to learn more.
For more information on purchasing a holiday home with a different kind of offering, contact us directly via our website or call us on 01566 788 938.
Further information on water sport activities available at Roadford Lake and to enquire about courses, instructor led sessions and self-launch booking please visit https://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/.