Diss Mere

The water here is surprisingly deep - so deep that locals have debated its true bottom for centuries. Diss Mere sits right in the middle of the Norfolk market town of Diss, a genuine glacial lake that commands attention the moment you round the corner and see it properly. It's roughly circular, reed-fringed, and absolutely still most days, creating an oddly contemplative spot in what's otherwise a working town.

You can walk the perimeter path easily enough - takes about twenty minutes without rushing - and there's a proper bench or two where you can sit and watch the water. The town itself clusters around it, which means you're never far from a cafe or pub if the weather turns. Family groups tend to potter around here while waiting for lunch elsewhere in Diss, and it's fine for that. What you won't get is dramatic vistas or thrilling activity. It's a lake. It's lovely for what it is, but don't expect it to hold anyone's attention for hours.

Free to visit, naturally. Best in spring when the water's highest and the light's cleaner. If you're staying at Applewood Countryside Holidays or Hill Farm Suffolk nearby - both proper working farms with good reputations - Diss Mere makes a gentle morning walk before you head elsewhere. It's the sort of place that rewards you for being local, or passing through, rather than worth a special expedition from Eye or further afield.