Elleron Lake

The water at Elleron Lake sits dark and still, ringed by woodland that feels properly remote despite being just a few miles from Pickering. It's the sort of place that catches you off guard - you're not expecting to find a lake of this size tucked away in North Yorkshire, yet here it is, genuinely peaceful.

What you get is a decent walk around the perimeter, which takes a solid hour or so depending on your pace and how many times you stop to stare at the water. The surrounding trees provide shelter, which matters more than you'd think on those grey Yorkshire days. Birdwatchers come here regularly - the variety is legitimate - and anglers know it well enough that you'll spot a few settled in for the afternoon.

It's free to access and there's no formal setup to speak of, which is rather the point. Families with young kids might get restless after 40 minutes, but if you've got walkers in the group or anyone serious about nature, they'll happily spend half a day here. The nearby caravan parks - Lakeside is closest at under four miles - make it an easy add-on to a broader North Yorkshire trip. Pickering itself is worth a proper visit for the castle and the steam railway, so you could combine this with a morning stroll round the lake and still have the afternoon free for other things.

Go early or late in the day if you want solitude. Midday on a sunny weekend will bring out the dog walkers.