Corston Pond

The pond sits quietly on the edge of Malmesbury, a proper little water meadow that doesn't announce itself. You'll find locals here rather than tour groups, which is the whole point really. It's small enough that you can walk the perimeter in twenty minutes, but most people come to watch the wildlife - moorhens, mallards, the occasional heron if you're lucky and patient.

The banks are soft and boggy in places, so decent shoes matter. There's a decent walking path most of the way round, though it gets a bit overgrown come late summer. The water itself is reflective and calm, proper restful after a drive. In spring the place fills with birds; autumn brings the colours bouncing off the surface.

Walkers get the most from Corston Pond. It's not a destination you'd drive an hour for on its own, but if you're based at Burton Hill Caravan & Camping Park nearby, it's a cracking spot for an evening stroll before supper. Kids under ten might find it bit dull unless they're the type who genuinely enjoy spotting water birds - there's no playground, no facilities, just water and trees.

Free to visit, naturally. Allow forty minutes to an hour if you're meandering. Go early morning or late afternoon when the light's best and the wildlife's most active. Winter's actually rather atmospheric here, when the mist hangs low and you've got the place to yourself.