Lydiard Park Lake

The lake at Lydiard Park, just outside Swindon, is one of those places that creeps up on you. You round a corner through the parkland and suddenly there's proper open water, fringed with reeds and dotted with waterfowl. It's a nature reserve now, which means the whole setup feels genuinely wild rather than manicured.

Walkers will find this rewarding. The path loops around the lake itself - nothing strenuous, but it takes a good hour if you dawdle and actually look at things. Bring binoculars. The bird life is decent, especially in winter, and you'll spot the occasional heron lurking in the shallows. In spring the dragonflies are cracking.

Families with younger kids might manage 45 minutes before they start asking when you're going for ice cream. There's space for them to run about, and the water's far enough away that you're not constantly fretting. Dog walkers get a lot out of it too - off-lead potential depending on how strictly the reserve is policed.

The best bit is how it sits within the broader Lydiard Park estate. You can easily spend a proper afternoon here, wandering between the lake and the historic house and grounds without feeling rushed. Park Farm Campsite is just four miles off if you're staying locally - makes for a solid base for exploring this corner of Wiltshire.

Admission appears to be free, which is the main reason to actually go rather than drive past it.