Crookfoot Reservoir

The water here is remarkably still on calm days - the sort of place where you actually notice the silence. Crookfoot Reservoir sits in County Durham's industrial landscape, a working water body that's become an unexpectedly decent spot for a walk and a bit of birdwatching. It's not dramatic or particularly scenic by Peak District standards, but there's something honest about it. You get proper views across the water, and in autumn the reflections are worth the trip alone.

The reservoir works best for walkers who aren't after dramatic fell-top vistas. A circuit takes you a couple of hours depending on pace, and it's flat enough that families with younger legs won't grind to a halt halfway. Birdwatchers rate it highly - gulls, cormorants, and if you're lucky, the odd diver in winter. Bring binoculars and patience rather than expecting a spectacle.

Access details are a bit thin on the ground online, so check locally before you go. It's close enough to Hartlepool that it works as a morning stop if you're staying at Castledene Holiday Park, though honestly the 4.8-mile distance means you're better off combining it with other walks in the area rather than making a special journey. The industrial setting - cooling towers visible in the distance - won't appeal if you're after untouched wilderness, but it's genuine and unpretentious. Worth an hour if you're passing through, not worth rearranging your holiday for.