Bewl Water

The reservoir sprawls across 770 acres of the Sussex-Kent border near Wadhurst, and it's genuinely impressive in person - the kind of water that makes you realise how much sky there is. You can walk the full circuit (about 13 miles if you're committed), though most people do shorter stretches along the well-maintained paths that loop around the perimeter.

What you actually get here is proper outdoors without needing to trek to the Lake District. There's fishing if you're into that, sailing for the more serious types, and a visitor centre that handles the practicalities. Families with younger kids will manage 2-3 miles easily enough, though the novelty wears off if you're hoping for dramatic scenery - it's pleasant, not jaw-dropping. Walkers genuinely like it though, especially those training for longer routes.

The best move is tackling this during a camping stint at Hopgarden Glamping, which sits just under two miles away and has proper five-star reviews. Glassenbury Camping (5.2 miles) works too if Hopgarden's full. Both give you a decent base without the faff of driving back and forth.

Go on a weekday if possible - weekends pull in the sailing club crowd and it gets busier. Spring and early autumn are ideal when the weather's cooperating and you won't overheat on the longer walks. The visitor centre will have specific opening times and costs, but access to the paths themselves is straightforward. Worth a full morning, half a day if you're mixing it with other Kent attractions nearby.