Foremark park

The moment you arrive at Foremark, you clock the water. There's a proper reservoir here that dominates the landscape - 43 acres of it - and it's genuinely striking. This nature reserve near Derby is run by Severn Trent and it's become a serious spot for birdwatchers, walkers and anyone who fancies a bit of peace without having to drive hours from civilisation.

You can walk the perimeter trail, which is straightforward enough and takes about an hour if you're not stopping every thirty seconds to identify warblers. The grassland margins and woodland patches mean you'll actually see things - redshank, great crested grebes, the occasional heron picking around the shallows. Spring and autumn are when the migration really gets interesting, so time your visit accordingly if you're into that sort of thing.

It's free to access and there's parking, which is proper useful when you've got kids in tow. Families won't find it overstimulating - it's quiet, contemplative even - though younger children might lose interest after the initial "look, ducks" phase. Serious birders will absolutely get their money's worth here.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby glamping spots like Broadleaves, which is barely half a mile away, Foremark works brilliantly as a morning or late afternoon escape. Conkers, five miles south, is also close enough for a quick visit. Neither requires much planning - just turn up with decent binoculars and reasonable footwear.