Cotter End Tarn

Cotter End Tarn sits in the Pennines near Hawes like a proper mountain lake should - dark water, steep sides, and the kind of silence that makes you understand why people walk up here. It's not a destination in itself, but rather a decent waypoint on a longer fell walk through the Yorkshire Dales, especially if you're tackling routes that connect Wensleydale.

The tarn itself is small and intimate, surrounded by rough moorland and bracken that glows copper in autumn. On clear days the water reflects the fells above it, though honestly, if you're coming specifically for views, you'll find better ones five minutes further up the path. What makes it worthwhile is the walk to reach it - genuinely rewarding if you're based at one of the nearby campsites like Usha Gap Farm or the Hawes Caravan Club site.

Walkers get the most from this place. It's not a casual family stroll, and young kids would struggle with the ascent. Allow two to three hours for a round trip from Hawes, depending on fitness and how much you dawdle. Spring and early summer offer the easiest conditions, though the moorland is bleak in a rather beautiful way when the weather turns.

Free to visit, obviously - it's open fell. If you're camping near Hawes for a week, build this into a longer circular walk rather than making it a standalone trip. Pair it with higher peaks nearby and you've got a proper day out.