Largest lakes & reservoirs in United Kingdom by acres
There is no widely-accepted minimum surface area that defines a lake. What LakeLubbers describes as a lake, you might call a pond. Acreage of a lake (or sometimes square kilometers) is most often measured at the top surface area when the lake is at normal elevation. The surface area can be considerably smaller or larger when lake levels are lower or higher than normal. North America’s Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake by this measure.The other measure of a lake’s size is the lake’s water volume. By that measure, the world’s largest freshwater lake is Lake Baikal in Siberia.
You can find many of the world’s largest lakes (acres) on LakeLubbers in the comparison table below. Note: For some lakes, "Largest Lakes - Acres" data is unknown or does not apply, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 43 articles we have published for United Kingdom lakes.
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Below are lakes within United Kingdom > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in United Kingdom, only the 43 United Kingdom lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Surface area in acres | Lake description |
---|---|---|
Loch Tay (Central Scotland, Perthshire Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
6,528 ac | Loch Tay is a long and narrow natural lake in the central Scottish Highlands that extends southwest to northeast in the country’s Central and Perthshi … |
Loch Shin (Highlands & Moray Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
5,570 ac | Loch Shin is a long and narrow glacial lake located in County Sutherland, part of the Scottish Highlands. This freshwater loch measures about 17.5 mil … |
Loch Ericht (Highlands & Moray Region, Scotland, Perthshire Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
5,532 ac | Also known as Lake Ericht Hidden in the shadow of Ben Alder Munro or Mountain, Loch Ericht is a beautiful freshwater lake on the border between Perth and Kinross and the Highla … |
Loch Shiel (Highlands & Moray Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
4,942 ac | Also known as Loch Seile Surrounded by one of the few remaining areas of true wilderness in Scotland, the picturesque scenery around Scotland’s Loch Shiel has been featured in … |
Loch Rannoch (Perthshire Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
4,737 ac | Nestled in the Perth and Kinross region of the Scottish Highlands, Loch Rannoch is a glacial freshwater lake often considered to be the most beautiful … |
Lake Windermere (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
3,648 ac | Also known as Windermere, The Lake District Lake Windermere is the largest natural lake in England, covering more than 3,600 acres (1,476 hectares) in northwest England’s famous Lake District. C … |
Lough MacNean (Fermanagh Region, Northern Ireland, Ireland, North West Region, Ireland, Northern Ireland Region, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
2,429 ac | Also known as Upper Lough MacNean, Lower Lough MacNean Lough MacNean, a freshwater lake (lough) surrounded by picturesque scenery, is often referred to by Upper Lough MacNean and Lower Lough MacNean. This … |
Ullswater (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
2,199 ac | Also known as Ullswater Lake, The Lake District Cumbria, in northwest England’s famous Lake District, is home to diverse natural features that attract visitors from near and far. Ullswater, a natura … |
Loch Assynt (Highlands & Moray Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
1,977 ac | Hidden away in a remote corner of Northwestern Scotland, Loch Assynt offers a scenic vista consisting of nearly 2,000 acres of sparkling cold waters, … |
Bassenthwaite Lake (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
1,310 ac | Also known as Bass Lake, Bassenwater, Broadwater, The Lake District Bassenthwaite Lake is a scenic peaceful lake located in England’s Lake District. In this land of many lakes, Bassenthwaite Lake is the only body of wa … |
Derwentwater (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
1,285 ac | Also known as Derwent Water, Derwentwater Lake, The Lake District Cumbria, in northwest England, is home to Lake District National Park, established in 1951. All of the land in England that exceeds an elevation of 3, … |
Coniston Water (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
1,210 ac | Also known as Conison Lake, Coniston, Thurston Water, The Lake District Coniston Water is in England’s Lake District, its spectacular landscapes making it an impressive tourist attraction in its own right. However, Conisto … |