Wimbleball Lake

Wimbleball Lake lies on Exmoor in Somerset, formed in the 1970s by a concrete buttress dam across the River Haddeo. The reservoir covers 374 acres and holds 21,000 megalitres of water. Pinkish sand and aggregate from Bampton and Uffculme were used to match the local rock colours. The dam’s height of 161 feet controls the flow of the Haddeo and its tributaries, including the River Pulham near Brompton Regis. Water released during low flows in the River Exe supports abstraction points downstream at Tiverton and Exeter. Research since 2001 has tracked how regulated releases change the Haddeo’s temperature and flow patterns. Studies compared it with the unregulated River Pulham, showing warmer mean temperatures and fewer freezing spells. A 2001–2002 fish survey examined how these changes affect juvenile salmon populations. South West Water’s findings helped identify barriers to salmon growth in the regulated river. The lake is run by South West Lakes Trust, offering walking, camping, birdwatching and water sports. A £1 million project in 2005 added a rowing store, showers, a bird hide and improved paths. A new activity centre opened in 2006, and Wimbleball Sailing Club provides training and racing nearby. At the southern end, the tower of Old Church of St James overlooks the water, marking the edge of the reservoir.