Derwent Water

The lake itself is the thing at Derwent Water - four and a half miles of proper fell-lined water that dominates the view from Keswick town centre. You can walk the perimeter (it takes a good four hours if you're not stopping), rent a boat, or simply sit on the shore and watch the light change on Catbells across the water. The Keswick Launch runs passenger boats if your legs need a break, and there are spots where you can just pull up and paddle.

This is walkers' territory, really. Families with young children might get restless after an hour of lakeside wandering, but anyone who likes mountains and water will be in their element. The fell-walkers use it as a starting point for routes up Helvellyn or Skiddaw. In autumn, when the larches turn golden and the light gets that thin quality, it's genuinely worth putting the kettle on at your caravan and coming back to sit here for an afternoon.

Free to access, obviously - you're just walking around a lake. The campsite options nearby are excellent: Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club sits less than half a mile away, and Castlerigg Hall (just over a mile) has glamping if you want to rough it with comfort. Both give you the lake on your doorstep without the drive. Spring and early autumn are best - fewer tourists, better light, warmer days than you'd expect. Winter's moody but can be sodden.