Coatenhill Reservoir

A fair trek out from Hexham, Coatenhill Reservoir sits quietly in the Northumberland hills without the crowds you'd find at more famous water spots. It's a working reservoir - functional, honest, and surprisingly peaceful. The walk in takes you through proper countryside, and once you're there the water reflects the moorland around it in that particular grey-green way northern reservoirs do.

Walkers get the most from this place. There's a decent loop around the water if you're after a couple of hours' solid tramping, and the surrounding hills offer views that aren't dramatic but feel earned. Families with energetic kids will appreciate the space to stretch their legs, though there's not much to actually do once you arrive - no cafe, no visitor centre, just water and air.

The reservoir itself is unremarkable compared to, say, Kielder to the west, but that's rather the point. If you're after solitude and don't mind the fact there's no facilities, it's a proper find. The moorland around it changes character through the seasons - bleak in winter, softer in late spring.

Stay at Panoramic Pods five miles away and you've got a good base for exploring this quieter corner of the region. Allow two to three hours for a walk around the water. Free to visit, obviously. Go midweek if you can - weekends will see the car park busier than you'd expect for somewhere this remote.