Magdale Dam

The water at Magdale Dam sits proper still on most days, a long stretch of grey-blue that catches the light differently depending on where you stand along the bank. It's a working reservoir above Holmfirth, not a tourist attraction in the conventional sense, but walkers and locals know it as a decent spot for a leg-stretcher, particularly if you're already exploring the moorland around this part of South Yorkshire.

The walk around the dam itself takes the best part of an hour at a relaxed pace. You get decent views across the water towards the surrounding hills - nothing dramatic, but there's a quietness to it that's worth seeking out when you've had enough of the busier trails. The path can be muddy after rain, which is most of the time up here, so proper boots aren't optional.

Kids won't be massively engaged unless they're the type who enjoy spotting birds or skimming stones. History types will find the industrial heritage of the dam itself mildly interesting - these reservoirs tell you something about 19th-century engineering and what the area needed to support its mills and factories.

Stay at Whitegate Leisure Camping and Caravan Site just 4.4 miles away and you're perfectly placed for mixing reservoir walks with the broader moorland around Holmfirth. The Holiday Pod is another solid option at 6.1 miles. Neither location is crowded, which means you'll actually enjoy the peace that Magdale Dam offers. Free to access, naturally - it's working infrastructure, not a visitor centre.