Lake 86

Lake 86 sits just outside Cirencester in the Gloucestershire countryside, a proper working gravel pit that's been transformed into a fishing and wildlife spot. The water's clear enough to see what you're doing if you're casting a line, and the banks are lined with mature trees that give the whole place a bit of shelter from the wind.

This is fundamentally a fishery rather than a leisure destination. If you're after trout or pike, you'll want to check what's been stocked recently and whether you need a permit - the details are a bit thin on the ground online, so ring ahead before driving over. Non-anglers will find a pleasant enough walk around the perimeter and decent birdwatching, especially in winter when the visiting wildfowl come through. It's not a swimming lake, so don't expect to cool off in summer.

The real pull here is if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Hoburne Cotswold is barely a mile away, making Lake 86 a natural half-day add-on to a Cotswolds touring holiday. Families with older kids who fancy learning to fish will get more from it than those after a quick photo stop. Allow an hour for a walk or two hours if you're serious about the fishing. Spring and autumn are probably your best bets for visiting, when the water temperature suits most species and you're not fighting the summer crowds at prettier spots around Cirencester.