Ilton Reservoir

The water sits there, flat and still, ringed by rough moorland that rolls away toward the horizon. Ilton Reservoir, just outside Ripon, is the sort of place that doesn't announce itself - no visitor centre, no café, just a proper working water supply that happens to be rather lovely to walk around. You get the sense walkers have been coming here for years without fuss, following the perimeter path and watching for the occasional heron or grebe that calls this stretch home.

It's a straightforward outing. Allow an hour to circuit the water at a normal pace, longer if you're the sort who stops frequently to look at things. There's no charge for access, and it works brilliantly as a break from the gentler attractions around Ripon itself - worth combining with time at Woodhouse Farm Holiday Park or Sleningford Watermill if you're staying in the area for a week. The landscape won't take your breath away, but that's rather the point. It's unshowy and honest.

Walkers will appreciate it more than young children, who might get restless without facilities or events. The moorland setting means it's exposed - fine on a still day, but windy stretches can feel a bit bleak. Go when the light is decent, either morning or late afternoon, and you'll see why locals keep coming back. Best avoided after heavy rain when the paths get boggy.