Dodd Reservoir

The water sits proper still on most days, hemmed in by moorland that rolls back towards the Pennines. Dodd Reservoir near Hexham is a working water supply rather than a leisure destination dressed up as one, which means it's refreshingly unpretentious. You're looking at moorland walking territory here - the kind of place where you can stretch your legs without crowds, spot the occasional heron, and remember why you came to County Durham in the first place.

It's not a place to sit with an ice cream for three hours. This is for walkers and photographers who want to string together a few hours of proper countryside without needing a destination at the end of it. The water itself is the draw - dark and reflective against the fell backdrop, best visited when clouds are doing something interesting overhead. Early morning gets the light right before the day heats up.

Stay based at Westgate Caravan & Camping Site a few miles off and you've got this as a morning walk option alongside everything else the Hexham area offers. The reservoir works best as part of a bigger moorland circuit rather than a standalone visit. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper loop walk around it, longer if you're the kind who stops to sketch or spend five minutes watching the water.

Free to visit, naturally. No facilities on-site, so bring what you need. Weather changes fast up here, so even on a decent day, bring layers.