Chew Valley Lake Walk

This walk follows the delightful nature trail which runs along the eastern side of this large lake in Chew Stoke. The trail is well surfaced and offers great views across the lake towards Denny Island with a huge variety of birds to look out for on the way.
Walk Report October 14th 2026 By Sarah Mitchell:
We started our walk at the car park beside Chew Valley Lake (postcode BS40 8TF for your sat navs) and set off along the nature trail on the eastern side of the lake.... It's a lovely place for a gentle stroll, with the well-surfaced path making it easy to enjoy the scenery without having to worry about difficult terrain. The views across the water were a real highlight, particularly towards Denny Island, which lies out in the lake and provides a nesting site for Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks and Canada Geese. We stopped to watch the water for a while, as there was plenty going on to hold our attention even on this relatively short walk.
As we continued along the trail, we passed the reed beds beside the shoreline. These are worth taking your time over if you enjoy birdwatching, as Reed Buntings can be spotted among the vegetation. In summer, the purple flowers of Marsh Woundwort add colour to the edges of the path, giving this stretch a different feel from the more open views across the lake. I would bring binoculars if you have them, as the lake and its surrounding habitats are particularly appealing for anyone interested in wildlife.
The route then takes you through a small area of woodland, with Sweet Chestnut, Beech and Sycamore trees providing welcome shade on a warm day. We enjoyed the change from the open lakeside to the quieter woodland path, where it is worth keeping an eye out for Coal Tits, Chaffinches and the Brown Treecreeper moving among the trunks and branches. There is also a pond and a wildflower meadow along the trail, adding further variety to the walk. Despite its short length, we found there was plenty to look at by taking our time and noticing the different habitats along the way.
One of the best things about this walk is the view across the lake towards the Mendip Hills. The water gives the landscape a real sense of space, with the hills forming an attractive backdrop beyond the far shore. Chew Valley Lake is a well-known spot for wildlife and fishing, but this trail offers a straightforward way to appreciate the setting on foot. It's ideal if you want a peaceful walk without committing to several miles of walking, and there are plenty of places to pause and enjoy the view.
After completing the trail, we headed to the lakeside café for refreshments, which made a pleasant end to the visit. The car park at the start makes the walk easy to plan, and the location just south of Chew Magna means you can combine it with a visit to the village if you have more time. I would recommend this route to anyone who enjoys nature and waterside scenery, especially birdwatchers and families looking for an easy outing. The woodland, reed beds, meadow and lake views give the walk plenty of interest, even though it is short.
You can easily reach the lake from the village by following our Chew Magna Circular Walk which visits the River Chew and Knowle Hill before descending to the lakeside. The Two Rivers Way walking route runs past the lake too so you could pick this up to extend your walk. Heading west takes you towards Buttcombe where you can visit the lovely Blagdon Lake with more nice nature trails to try. You can also pick up the Three Peaks Walk on the eastern side of the water at Hollow Brook. This lovely long distance trail will take you further into the Chew Valley where you could visit High Littleton and Greyfield Woods. National Cycle route 3 runs along Herons Green Bay on the the western side of the lake. You can use the signed route and minor roads on the eastern side to create a circular route around the lake.
Postcode: BS40 8TF
Pubs and More Info
For a bite to eat after your exercise head to the Salt & Malt restaurant at the northern end of the lake. (postcode BS40 8XS). It was awarded Best Fish & Chips at the Bristol Good Food Awards 2018 and also provides fine views over the water. Also highly recommended is the Pony and Trap (Postcode:BS40 8TQ). The 200 year old gastro-pub is prized for its bar food as well as its Michelin-starred dining room. It's located just to the east of the lake on Moorledge Road in a lovely country setting. There's outdoor seating with fine views over the Chew Valley.
Just to the south of the lake is the pretty village of Compton Martin. Here you will find a noteworthy Norman church and the picturesque millpond which is the source of the Congresbury Yeo River. There's also the The Ring O' Bells, an historic pub dating back to the 16th century. There's a wonderful old interior with plenty of original features such as dark wooden beams, wooden flooring, stone walls and a large inglenook fireplace. Outside there's a fantastic, large beer garden with views of the surrounding countryside. It's a great place to relax in on warmer days. You can find them at postcode BS40 6JE for your sat navs. They are dog friendly.
Just a couple of miles to the south there's the less well known Litton Reservoir. There's more lovely waterside footpaths here, running alongside two pretty lakes. There's also an excellent award winning pub in the little village of Litton, just south of the lakes.
Cycling Information: The Avon Cycleway passes along the northern edge of the lake. The long distance circular ride explores the area around Bristol, visiting the edge of the Cotswolds and the coast around Clevedon.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Mendip Hills Walks page.

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Nearby Routes

Greyfield Woods Two Rivers Way Three Peaks Walk Limestone Link Chew Magna Paulton Litton Reservoir Timsbury Compton Martin

Photos

From Kingshill Lane over Chew Valley Lake. From a bend in Kingshill Lane, looking east over the lake past Nunnery Copse. The B3114 road is just visible in the foreground.

Chew Valley Lake 2. The lake is a vital stopover for migratory birds, particularly wildfowl such as wigeons, teals, and shovelers. In winter, large numbers of tufted ducks and pochards can be seen on the water, alongside goldeneyes and goosanders. Grebes, including the great crested grebe, are often spotted, performing their elaborate courtship displays during the breeding season.
The lake is also home to resident species like herons, coots, and moorhens. Overhead, buzzards and kestrels can often be seen soaring, while kingfishers add flashes of brilliant blue along the lake’s margins. In the surrounding reed beds, sedge warblers, reed buntings, and occasionally the elusive bittern can be heard or sighted. Swans and Canada geese are common sights, contributing to the lake's vibrant avian population.

Chew Valley Lake 3. Walkers may also observe butterflies, damselflies, and dragonflies, especially during warmer months.

Chew Valley Lake: World Heritage Site. Taken on the B3114 at the weir and blurb boards about the Wetlands and its World Heritage Status. View looks north west across the lake.

Showing the plaque at the lake to celebtrate Queen Elizabth II opening the lake in 1956

The lake from Hinton Blewett.

 The lake from the picnic area

Northern-most edge of the lake. Standing at ST570615 on northern-most edge of the lake, looking directly east

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