Birkdale Tarn

The walk down to Birkdale Tarn will take your breath away before the water even comes into view. This moorland lake sits in a proper Yorkshire dale about four miles from Richmond, surrounded by steep fell sides that feel genuinely remote despite being only a short drive from civilisation.

Once you reach the tarn itself, the water is dark and still, reflecting the surrounding hills in a way that stops you mid-stride. It's not a large body of water - you can walk the perimeter in under an hour - but the isolation gives it real character. The shoreline is rocky and the banks rise sharply, so this isn't a place for paddling or messing about. It's somewhere you come to actually look and think.

Walkers will get the most from Birkdale Tarn. The surrounding moorland has several route options, and combining a visit here with a wider circuit of the dale makes for a solid afternoon out. Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of hill work will find it worthwhile, though there's nothing laid on in the way of facilities or interpretation boards. Bring a packed lunch and you've got yourself a proper wild Yorkshire experience.

The nearest town is Richmond, which has all the amenities you'd need. If you're based at Usha Gap Farm and Campsite nearby, this is the sort of place that justifies the trip north - accessible enough for a casual visit, challenging enough to feel like an achievement.