Beeby's East

Water stretches out flat and calm under big skies - that's Beeby's East, a proper lake just outside Peterborough where the landscape opens up and you realise how much of Cambridgeshire is actually water. This isn't a visitor attraction in the formal sense with a car park and café. It's more of a spot for people who know about it: walkers, birdwatchers, and anyone after a bit of peace in the Fens.

The lake itself is the draw. Wildlife comes here - various waterfowl, herons if you're patient, and in the right seasons you'll see migrants passing through. The paths around it are decent for a walk, though it's genuinely flat and can feel exposed when the wind picks up. Bring binoculars if you're interested in birds. Don't expect Lakeland drama or tourist facilities.

If you're camping at Ferry Meadows just down the road - which is excellent and only 3.3 miles away - Beeby's East makes an easy morning outing. The Nene Outdoors site is also close by if you want something slightly less polished. Neither campsite is heaving, which says something about how quiet this corner of Cambridgeshire actually is.

Admission appears to be free. Allow a couple of hours for a decent walk around the perimeter, though you can do it quicker if you're just passing through. Go early if you want the best chance of spotting birds. The flat, open terrain means it's fine for families with older kids who can handle a longer walk, but there's not much to hold younger children's attention beyond "look, water".