Borrans Reservoir

The water here sits surprisingly quiet, hemmed in by moorland that slopes down from the fells above Windermere. Borrans Reservoir is a working water supply - nothing fancy, no visitor centre or café - but that's exactly why it works as a proper walk rather than a tourist trudge.

You get a decent circuit around the perimeter, maybe forty minutes at a steady pace, with the water on one side and rough grassland on the other. The views back towards the main lake are solid, and on a clear day you'll pick out the ridge lines that make this part of Cumbria worth the drive. It's the kind of place fell walkers use as a warm-up before tackling something higher, or where locals take their dogs and expect to see hardly anyone else.

Family groups with older children will manage it fine - the path's clear enough and there's genuine landscape to look at rather than manicured gardens. Little ones might find it a bit bleak after half an hour. The real value here is as an escape hatch when the honeypots around Windermere town get rammed. You're still within spitting distance of both the Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club Site and Lakeland Glamping if you're based in the area.

Free to walk around, open all hours - it's a reservoir, not an attraction with gates. Go early or late to avoid what few crowds do find their way up here. Worth the detour if you're staying locally and want a proper walk without the fuss.