Colliford Lake Lay-By A30

Pull off the A30 between Launceston and Bodmin and you'll stumble onto one of Cornwall's least fussed-over spots. Colliford Lake is a proper working reservoir, the kind of place where you actually see people fishing rather than posing for photos. The lay-by gives you a decent vantage point across the water, with moorland rolling away behind it - bleak and honest rather than picture-postcard pretty.

It's the kind of stop that rewards a twenty-minute wander more than a half-day visit. Walk the perimeter if your legs need stretching, and you'll get proper views across the water. On a clear day you can see right across Bodmin Moor. Don't expect facilities - there's the lay-by and that's about it. No cafés, no visitor centre, no gift shop.

Families with restless kids might find it a bit underwhelming on its own, but it works brilliantly as a breather during a longer road trip or combined with other moorland walks. Birdwatchers and photographers genuinely rate the place - the light across the water shifts constantly and you get waders and waterfowl year-round.

If you're camping at Camp De Lank, Ekopod, or Trewithen Farm nearby, this is absolutely worth an afternoon detour. It's free, it's peaceful, and it feels like somewhere locals actually use rather than somewhere built for visitors. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.