Balderhead Reservoir

Drive west from Barnard Castle and the landscape opens up - moors rolling away, then suddenly a vast expanse of water appears. Balderhead Reservoir is one of those places that catches you off guard. It's a working water supply, not a theme park, so don't expect facilities or crowds. What you get instead is peace and proper countryside.

The reservoir itself is the draw. You can walk the perimeter - a solid few miles if you're doing the full circuit - or just park up and take in the view. The water's fringed by moorland and fell, especially dramatic on the eastern shore where Balderhead Moor rises steeply. On a clear day it's genuinely worth stopping for. Photographers tend to like it. So do walkers after a proper hike rather than a stroll.

It's free to visit, no gates or barriers, though there's limited parking and the roads aren't wide. Weather matters here - mist rolls in fast on the high ground, and winter can be grim. Spring through autumn is your sweet spot.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks near Barnard Castle - Mickleton Mill, Leekworth, or the Camping and Caravanning Club site are all within a few miles - this makes a decent half-day outing. Don't expect it to fill a full afternoon though. Best paired with a walk up one of the nearby fells or a drive over Pennine Way scenery. It's the kind of place you stop at because you're passing through, not because you've planned a day around it.