Blagdon Lake

Blagdon Lake is one of Bristol’s main reservoirs, created in 1901 by damming the River Yeo. Although man-made, it feels wonderfully natural, with 430 acres of water surrounded by rolling countryside and rich wildlife habitat.

Only a small section of the lake is open to the public for walking, taking in woodland paths, small bridges over streams and nearby picnic-friendly fields. Despite the limited access, it’s a very scenic and peaceful place for a dog walk.

Dogs must be kept on leads at all times and are not permitted to enter the water. Blagdon Lake is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and blue-green algae can form during the summer months, posing a risk to dogs. While not everyone follows these rules, we strongly recommend sticking to them to protect both wildlife and your dog.

There are several parking options around the lake, but the easiest are on Blagdon Lane, where a public footpath leads into the woodland, or the free car park in Blagdon village (BS40 7TE). From the village car park, it’s around a 20-minute walk to reach the woodland lake path.

The woodland route offers beautiful views across the lake and surrounding countryside. While there is only one main path, you can detour into adjacent fields through gated access points — though be aware that livestock may be present at certain times.

The public path does not allow you to walk the full circuit of the lake unless you continue on roads. We spent around an hour walking the accessible section and back again, which felt just right.

 

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