Bury Lake

The water at Bury Lake sits dead calm most mornings, mirroring the sky like polished glass. It's a proper freshwater lake just outside Rickmansworth in Buckinghamshire - the sort of place locals know well but day-trippers often miss entirely. You can walk the perimeter, which takes a good hour or so depending on pace, and there's enough going on to keep you interested without feeling like you're being herded through a tourist trap.

Fishermen love this place. The lake's well-stocked and you'll see them dotted along the banks most days, especially early on. If angling's not your thing, it's still worth coming for the walk - the footpaths are well-maintained and there's proper woodland on parts of the circuit. Birdwatchers do well here too, particularly in winter when you get visiting ducks and the occasional kingfisher if you're lucky.

It's free to access and you can turn up whenever you fancy. Parking's a bit tight on busy weekends but the surrounding lanes are quiet enough that you rarely feel crowded. If you're based at Highclere Caravan and Camping Park just down the road, this makes an easy morning or afternoon excursion - four miles is a short drive. The lake itself won't keep you rooted for more than a couple of hours unless you're serious about the fishing, so combine it with a walk into Rickmansworth proper or a look round one of the other local spots. Bring binoculars if you're into birds, sturdy shoes for the muddier stretches, and don't expect any facilities - there's nothing on site.