Looking Glass Pond

Small fishing lakes often get overlooked, but this one near Nuneaton has a proper sense of calm about it. Looking Glass Pond lives up to its name on still mornings when the water reflects the sky like a mirror - though don't expect dramatic mountain backdrops or sweeping vistas.

Anglers seem to know something the rest of us don't. They turn up early with their gear and settle in for hours, which tells you the fishing's decent enough. The pond itself is fairly modest in size, surrounded by farmland and mature trees that provide some shelter from the wind.

Families with young children might find it a bit limited after half an hour - there's not much beyond the water itself and a footpath that circles most of it. But if you're after somewhere quiet to sit with a thermos and watch the world slow down, it does the job nicely.

Walkers can easily incorporate it into a longer route through the Leicestershire countryside. The area around here is properly rural, which makes it feel more remote than it actually is given Nuneaton's just down the road.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Bosworth Caravan Park or Mallory Meadows puts you within easy reach for an early morning visit when the light's best and the dog walkers haven't arrived yet.