Lake 35

You'll find Lake 35 just outside Cirencester, a proper spot for a quiet afternoon if you're after water without the crowds. It's a fishing lake, so don't expect theme park energy - the appeal is straightforward: water, walking space, and somewhere to sit with a flask. The lake itself is modest in size, which actually works in its favour. You're not staring at an expanse that makes you feel small and irrelevant.

Walkers get the most from it. There's a decent circuit around the water if you want to stretch your legs, though it's not a dramatic landscape - more gently rolling Cotswolds than anything postcard-worthy. Families with young kids might manage 45 minutes to an hour before restlessness sets in, unless someone's keen on spotting waterfowl. If you've got a camera, early morning light can be decent.

The main draw is proximity. You're staying at Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park just 1.5 miles away, or one of the other sites nearby, and fancying a break from base camp without driving far? Lake 35 fills that gap. It's free to visit and there's no faffing about with opening times - treat it like any other bit of countryside. Pop over for an hour, have a walk, grab some fresh air. Pair it with Cirencester's town attractions if you want something more structured, but go to Lake 35 expecting simplicity, not spectacle.