New Marsh

Water stretches out flat and calm at New Marsh, a modest lake just outside Sheffield that's surprisingly easy to miss if you don't know where to look. It's the sort of place locals come to for a quiet walk rather than a destination in itself, but that's precisely why it works.

There's a decent footpath around the perimeter that takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on pace. The water's proper tranquil, especially first thing in the morning when the light catches it nicely and you've got the place mostly to yourself. Birdwatchers do well here - you'll spot mallards, coots, and if you're lucky, the occasional heron poking about in the shallows. Bring binoculars and a notebook if that's your thing.

Families with young kids will manage the walk without complaint, though there's not much to do once you arrive beyond walking and looking. There are benches dotted about if you fancy a sit-down with a thermos. No facilities to speak of, so come prepared.

Stay at Waleswood Caravan & Camping Park or Rother Valley Country Park - both within easy reach - and New Marsh works nicely as a morning mooch before tackling the bigger draws in the area. It's free, obviously, and open whenever daylight is. Worth an hour of your time if you're in the region, but don't make special plans around it. Go because you're nearby, not because you've driven miles for the lake.