Lake 36

Water and woodland collide at Lake 36, a proper gem tucked into the Gloucestershire countryside just outside Cirencester. It's a working gravel pit turned nature reserve, which sounds industrial until you arrive and find yourself staring at clear blue water fringed with mature trees. The lake itself is the main event - fishing is the primary draw here, so expect to see anglers dotted along the banks most days. There's a car park, a café, and enough space to walk around and take in the views without feeling crowded.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Hoburne Cotswold is barely a mile away - Lake 36 makes a decent half-day visit. The walk around the perimeter is manageable, though not dramatic, and kids will find it peaceful rather than thrilling. Bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching; the lake attracts waterfowl year-round. Photography types will appreciate the light on the water at dusk.

Walkers should manage expectations. It's not a destination hike - more of a gentle ramble with a café stop. The real value is proximity; if you're camping at Park Farm or Cirencester Park Caravan Club, it's an easy morning or late-afternoon excursion to break up a park-based holiday. Allow two hours maximum, including a cuppa. Go on a weekday if possible; weekends bring the fishing crowd and noise levels rise accordingly.