Langsett Reservoir

The moment you round the bend towards Langsett Reservoir, you get that proper sense of being away from Sheffield's sprawl - water stretching out beneath moorland, quiet enough to actually hear yourself think. It's a working reservoir, so don't expect theme park energy, but that's rather the point.

The walk around the perimeter is the main draw here. Most people tackle the full circuit in around an hour and a half, though you can easily do shorter loops if the weather turns or energy flags. The path is well-maintained and fairly accessible, hugging the water's edge in places, then climbing gently through woodland. On a clear day the views back across the moorland are worth the leg work. Bring binoculars - there's decent birdwatching if you're into that sort of thing.

Families with kids will get a decent outing here, though you'll want them to be confident walkers. The walk's straightforward enough that younger ones won't spend the whole time moaning about steepness, but it's not a playground either. History types might appreciate the dam itself - solid Victorian engineering, though there's not much interpretation on site.

It's free to access and works brilliantly as a morning or afternoon slot alongside camping at Hoodlands Farm or Boots and Bubbles, both within spitting distance. Go midweek if you can - weekends pull in the casual crowd and parking gets tight. Spring and autumn are lovely here; summer can feel a touch busy, and winter's properly moody if you don't mind damp boots.