Ogden Reservoir

Water stretches out here like someone's drawn a long line across the moorland, and on a clear day you can actually see why people make the trip from Bury just to stand and look at it. Ogden Reservoir sits in proper Lancashire fell country, the kind of place where the light changes every five minutes and you feel like you're miles from anywhere, even though you're really not.

It's straightforward stuff - a walk around the water, a bit of birdwatching if you're into that, the odd angler along the banks. The moorland setting means you get real views rather than manicured parkland, which some folk love and others find a bit windswept. Allow an hour minimum if you're just after a stroll, longer if you want to do the full circuit or sit about with a flask.

Families get something from it, though small children might find a lap round the water a slog unless you break it up. Walkers and photography types will be happier here than people wanting attractions with facilities - there's no cafe, no visitor centre, just the reservoir and the moors. It's free to access, which is the main thing going for it if you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby. Dearden Wood is just 3.4 miles away, so a morning walk here before heading back for lunch works well enough. On a grey day it can feel a bit bleak, so pick your weather if you can. Winter mornings with mist rolling off the water are genuinely atmospheric, but summer draws the crowds.