Flamingo Lake

Water this still and glassy tends to draw you in, especially on a morning when the mist hasn't quite burned off. Flamingo Lake sits just inland from Paignton, a proper freshwater spot that's become something of a local favourite for a reason - it's got that calm, almost meditative quality you don't always find near a seaside town.

The lake itself is small enough that you can walk the perimeter in under an hour, which means families with younger legs won't be trailing behind with complaints. There's good birdwatching on offer here - the name's a bit of a misnomer if you're expecting actual flamingos, but you'll spot herons, grebes, and on a decent day, enough waterfowl to keep a pair of binoculars busy. The banks are accessible from several points, and anglers seem to know what they're doing here, so there's probably fish worth catching if that's your thing.

It works best as a gentle morning walk rather than a half-day destination on its own. If you're camped at South Bay Holiday Park four miles away, this makes a cracking early-morning escape before the heat builds or the crowds arrive anywhere else. Bring a flask, come for the quiet. Paignton itself is five minutes' drive, so you're well-positioned for a proper day out if you need more action - ice cream, pier, that sort of thing. Worth the detour if you value peace over spectacle.