Lakes & paddling
Glacial lakes cupped under the mountains, Wales' largest natural lake, and sheltered coves for coastal paddleboarding — North Wales is a paddler's playground. These guides cover where to launch, where it's calm, where permits or fees apply, and where the water is warm enough to want to fall in.
12 places covered.
North-East Wales
Conwy & the Coast
Eryri (Snowdonia)
Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
Llŷn Peninsula
Dee Valley & the Berwyn
Where to get on the water
Llyn Tegid (Bala) is the largest natural lake in Wales — room for sailing, paddleboarding and open-water swimming. Llyn Padarn at Llanberis gives a mountain backdrop and easy launching, while the higher glacial llyns under the peaks reward the wild-swimming brave. On the coast, the sheltered bays of Anglesey and the Llŷn are the pick for a calm-day paddle.
A little planning saves the day: check whether a launch fee or permit applies, watch for blue-green algae warnings in late summer, and respect the water temperature — it stays wetsuit-cold for most of the year, so treat cold-water safety and a buoyancy aid as standard, not optional.
Build a day out here
The free Explore Wales planner chains any of these into an itinerary with drive times, weather and campsite suggestions — and works offline once installed.