Blind Lough

The walk to Blind Lough takes you through proper Northumberland moorland, away from the tourist trails most people stick to round Haltwhistle. It's a small lake, to be honest - don't expect Windermere - but that's rather the point. The water sits in a fold of hills covered in heather and rough grass, and on a clear day you get views that stretch for miles across the fells.

You'll need decent boots and waterproofs. The ground gets boggy, especially after rain, and there's no marked path so navigation matters. Bring a map and know what you're doing, or go with someone who does. Most people allow a solid couple of hours for the round trip from the nearest road parking, though walkers with experience on open moorland might be quicker.

This is absolutely one for the hiking crowd rather than families after a gentle stroll. The landscape does something to you though - it's bleak and windswept and proper wild. Photographers love it, particularly in autumn when the heather browns off and the light goes low and gold across the water.

Combine it with a base at either Haltwhistle Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Panoramic Pods if you're planning a walking week in the area. Both are close enough to use as a launch point for tackling the surrounding moorland. Spring and autumn are best - summer can be midgy, and winter brings serious weather to these hills.