Magpie Lake

A shallow, reed-fringed stretch of water just east of St. Ives, Magpie Lake is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. It's popular with birdwatchers - the name gives away the avian credentials - and the reedy margins do attract proper good numbers of waterfowl throughout the year. The water itself is unremarkable, but that's rather the point. There's no café, no facilities, no queue. Just you, the birds, and the Cambridgeshire flatlands stretching out behind you.

If you're staying at The Cambridgeshire Glamping or Long Island Lake nearby, this makes an easy morning walk before breakfast. Bring binoculars if you're serious about birdwatching; casual visitors might manage an hour at most before heading elsewhere. It works best in spring and autumn when migration brings variety to the reeds. Summer can feel a bit sluggish and insect-heavy. Winter's fine if you don't mind the cold.

The lake sits within easy reach of other Cambridgeshire attractions, so treat it as a quiet punctuation mark rather than a destination in itself. Families with young children will find it dull unless they're already keen on spotting birds. Walkers and nature photographers get more from it. There's no charge that I'm aware of, and access appears unrestricted, though facilities are completely absent - bring your own water and a packed lunch if you're making an afternoon of it. Best visited on a clear day when light reaches the water properly.