Lagoon 2

The water at Lagoon 2 sits calm and wide, a proper reservoir that catches you off guard when you round the corner near Oakham. It's one of the larger bodies of water in Rutland and feels genuinely peaceful, especially on weekday mornings when the place is nearly empty.

This is a walker's spot more than anything else. The path around the perimeter gives you a decent circuit, and the birdlife is serious business here - bring binoculars if you're into that sort of thing. Herons, grebes, cormorants - they're all regular visitors. Families with kids will get an hour's entertainment, maybe two if the young ones are keen on spotting water birds, but don't expect rides or facilities.

There's no admission charge as far as I can tell, and you can pitch up and walk it whenever you fancy. The surrounding Rutland countryside is gentle rather than dramatic, rolling fields and quiet lanes that reward a slow approach.

If you're based at Greendale Farm Caravan & Camping Park just down the road, this makes a straightforward morning walk. Combine it with a proper explore of Rutland's other reservoirs - Rutland Water proper is the headline act, but Lagoon 2 gives you that quieter, less trampled version of the same experience. Worth 90 minutes out of your day, not worth planning a trip around entirely.