Lower Lake

The water at Lower Lake sits dead calm most mornings, reflecting the sky like polished glass. It's located just outside Nottingham - close enough for a morning visit but far enough to feel properly removed from the city. You can walk the perimeter, which takes a leisurely hour or so, or simply pitch up on the bank with a flask and watch the light change across the water.

There's not a great deal to do here in the theme-park sense. No cafes, no facilities, no crowds either. What you get instead is peace, and the kind of walking that clears your head without demanding much effort. Families with young kids might find it a touch dull after twenty minutes unless they're the type to skip stones and hunt for newts. Walkers and bird-watchers will spend longer - the lake attracts decent numbers of waterfowl, particularly in winter. Photographers come here too, especially at dusk when the light turns golden.

If you're staying at Fairview Farm Log Cabins or Lurcher Farm just down the road, Lower Lake makes a proper morning outing. It's free to visit, and there's usually space to park nearby. Early start recommended to avoid the midday sun reflecting off the water - you'll get better views and fewer people. Allow an hour minimum, two if you're a serious loiterer. It won't blow your mind, but it's the sort of place that settles you into a holiday mood straightaway.