Freshwater Lake

Freshwater Lake sits at around eight hundred metres in the highlands above Laudat, the largest lake on the island, held in a volcanic basin with ridges rising behind it and cloud moving across most of the day. UNESCO's citation names it and Boeri Lake as the country's largest lakes within Morne Trois Pitons National Park. A trail circles the shore in an hour or so, and on clear stretches the view opens east to the Atlantic coast.

What you actually see

• The lake - the largest on the island, in a volcanic basin at height.
• The shore trail - the loop around the water taking about an hour.
• The Atlantic view - the east coast visible on clear stretches of the walk.
• The elfin forest - the stunted cloud-forest vegetation of the ridges around.

When to go

December to April is drier with more clear spells. Cloud covers the lake most afternoons at any season. Mornings give the best chance of a view.

Honest expectations

Cloud sits on the lake much of the time and the view is often nothing at all. The road up is narrow and rough in places. It is noticeably cold and wet at this height.

Nearby

Boeri Lake is above, and Laudat is below.