Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in United Kingdom by altitude
While lake levels can flucuate frequently based on several circumstances, the altitude/elevation of a lake is based on its normal water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level. For a reservoir, this water level is also known as “full pond” or “full pool”.Low lake levels can occur due to deliberate seasonal draw downs for irrigation or impending snow melt, reduced water inflows, drought and evaporation, residential or commercial water demands, and hydropower generation. Some lakes’ minimum and maximum elevations are virtually the same. Lakes that generate hydropower may vary by several feet – according to power demand. Lakes whose primary purpose is to prevent flooding can seasonally vary by 100 feet or more. When some lakes reach their minimum elevation, their boat ramps may not be long enough to permit boat access – and boats docked on shallow parts of the lake may end up on dry ground. In those cases, kayakers and shore-based anglers may be among the few happy recreational users of the lake.
A lake’s highest water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level, that can occur during flooding. A lake’s highest possible maximum elevation is usually the top of the lake’s dam or spillway. At lakes that include residential development, government regulations usually forbid the construction of homes below a lake’s maximum elevation.
You can find many of the world’s highest-elevated lakes on LakeLubbers. Lakes with the lowest elevations (known by LakeLubbers) are shown on the final page of that list. Note: For some lakes, "Altitude/Elevation" data is unknown, so this table may display 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 highest altitude/elevation in feet. 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 | Elevation in feet | Lake description |
---|---|---|
Lake District (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
807 ft | Also known as The Lake, Lakeland Holiday in England’s Lake District, and you will find sparkling lakes set amidst stunning mountain scenery, wild heather carpeting gently rolling hill… |
Ullswater (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
486 ft | 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 Tay (Central Scotland, Perthshire Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
363 ft | 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) |
276 ft | 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… |
Derwentwater (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
251 ft | 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,… |
Lake Windermere (England, England's Northwest Region, United Kingdom) |
130 ft | 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… |
Loch Shiel (Highlands & Moray Region, Scotland, Scotland, United Kingdom, United Kingdom) |
16 ft | 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… |