Happy Hollows

A shallow lake sitting quietly east of Peterborough, Happy Hollows is exactly what its name suggests - a straightforward bit of water surrounded by low banks and scrubby vegetation. There's no visitor centre, no cafe, no facilities to speak of. Just a lake.

What you get is peace, mainly. Birdwatchers come here because the water attracts wildfowl and waders, especially in winter and during spring migration. If you're into that sort of thing, bring binoculars and a field guide. The walking is gentle - you can work your way around the perimeter without breaking a sweat, maybe an hour if you're in no hurry. It's the kind of place where you actually notice things: a heron standing stock-still at the water's edge, the way light hits the surface in late afternoon.

Families won't find much to occupy kids for more than twenty minutes, so don't expect theme park vibes. This is for quiet types. Photographers who like moody water scenes and amateur naturalists will get genuine value from it.

If you're based at Ferry Meadows Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite - just two miles away and highly rated - Happy Hollows makes a decent half-hour detour on a walk. Same goes for Nene Outdoors if you're staying there. The real draw here isn't the destination itself but the feeling of having found somewhere most tourists miss. And in Cambridgeshire, that's worth acknowledging.