Lower Windleden Reservoir

The water sits quietly in a fold of the Pennine moorland, about half an hour's drive west of Sheffield. Lower Windleden Reservoir is exactly what it says on the tin - a proper working reservoir, not a tourist attraction dressed up to be something it isn't. You won't find visitor centres or cafes here. What you will find is a decent walk around the perimeter, decent views across the water towards the surrounding hills, and a genuine sense of getting away from things.

The walk takes roughly an hour at a leisurely pace, maybe less if you're pushing on. It's popular with local ramblers and dog walkers rather than families after a day out, which means it rarely feels crowded. The moorland around it has that bleak, honest quality that characterises the South Pennines - windswept, treeless, with heather and rough grass doing the work. On a clear day the visibility is excellent. On a grey day, which is frequent, it's atmospheric in a brooding sort of way.

Walkers will get the most from this. Families with small children might find it a bit sparse - there's nowhere to sit down for a picnic, no facilities, and if the weather turns it turns quickly. There's free access to the footpaths around the reservoir, and it's an obvious add-on if you're staying at Thurlmoor Farm or one of the other campsites within a couple of miles. Works well as a morning walk before heading into Sheffield, or as a cool-down after a bigger day in the surrounding hills.