Loughnacrackin

The water at Loughnacrackin sits in a proper fold of the landscape, dark and still most days, with the Sperrins rising up behind it. It's not one of those showpiece lakes you'll find plastered across tourism websites - this is quieter territory, the kind of place you stumble on if you're taking the back roads between Omagh and somewhere else entirely.

What you get is straightforward: a lake for fishing, mostly, though walkers loop round the perimeter and it's the sort of spot where you can actually think. The water's hemmed in by conifer plantations, which sounds industrial until you're actually standing there and realise it's quite restful. Some folk come for the trout, others just need an hour away from things.

This isn't a destination in itself - no cafés, no facilities to speak of, no interpretation boards telling you what you're looking at. It works best as part of a walking day or a break if you're exploring the Omagh area more broadly. The Gortin Glen Glamping site sits five miles down the road, which makes sense as a base if you want proper accommodation with a bit of comfort. From there, Loughnacrackin becomes an easy morning or afternoon addition to your itinerary.

Summer's the obvious time, when the light lasts and the weather behaves itself. Bring a camera if you're into that sort of thing, or just binoculars and patience. It's genuine, uncomplicated countryside - no pretence, and all the better for it.