Martin Tarn

A small mountain lake tucked into the Cumbrian fells, Martin Tarn sits at around 500 metres and rewards walkers who make the effort to reach it. The water is dark and still, reflecting the surrounding hills - it's the sort of place that feels properly remote even though Wigton isn't far away as the crow flies. There's no visitor centre or facilities, which is part of its appeal. Most people approach from the southern end, where a bridleway climbs steadily through open moorland. The walk itself takes a good hour each way depending on fitness, and it's not a casual stroll - the terrain is rough and boggy in places.

You'll get the most from this if you're a keen walker rather than a casual day-tripper. Families with young children should probably skip it unless they're genuinely keen hikers. The rewards are the views across the Solway Plain once you reach the top, and the solitude - you won't find crowds here. Allow at least three hours to do it justice, including time to sit by the water and take in the quiet.

It works well as part of a broader fell-walking itinerary around Cumbria. If you're basing yourself at Wallace Lane Farm Holiday Park, Martin Tarn makes for a good half-day expedition. The drive to the trailhead is straightforward, parking rough and informal. Go in decent weather - this isn't the place to attempt in poor visibility or when the ground is waterlogged.