Cuffhill Reservoir

Water stretches out flat and grey under the Renfrewshire sky, and that's rather the point of Cuffhill Reservoir. It's not dramatic - no mountain backdrop, no waterfall thundering in. What you get instead is a proper working reservoir that feeds into the Clyde, surrounded by low moorland and the kind of quiet that makes you realise how little you normally experience it.

The walk around it is gentle, which suits most people. There's no scrambling, no false summits, just the steady crunch of gravel and the occasional heron lifting off from the shallows. You can do a circuit in under an hour if you're not lingering, but the light changes constantly across the water - you'll find yourself stopping more than you expect.

This appeals most to walkers after something meditative rather than challenging, and to anyone serious about spotting birds. The reservoir draws them in numbers. Kids under eight might get restless; older ones who can manage a couple of miles on flat ground will be fine, especially if you time it when the water's busy with dabchicks.

There's a car park at Lochwinnoch, the nearest town, which makes access straightforward. It's free to walk, and open whenever you fancy it really - this isn't the kind of place with gates and opening times. If you're staying at The Pods at Auchenhean nearby, it's worth an afternoon visit, though don't expect it to be the highlight of a week in the Lowlands. It's filler, but decent filler.