Portavoe Reservoir

The water sits absolutely still most days, grey-blue and ringed by low hills that don't shout for attention but quietly frame the whole thing rather nicely. Portavoe Reservoir is proper working infrastructure - a water supply for the area - but that doesn't stop it being a decent spot for a walk when you're based near Newtownards.

It's the kind of place that rewards you for getting out of the car without demanding anything dramatic in return. You'll find yourself on decent paths around the perimeter, with views across the water that shift depending on light and weather. Nothing Instagram-worthy, but genuinely calming. The landscape here is rolling rather than spectacular - more Mourne foothills than proper mountain scenery.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a tourist attraction in the traditional sense, so there are no visitor facilities, no cafes, no introductory signage. You just turn up and walk. Allow a couple of hours if you fancy circling the whole thing, or less if you just want a quick blow through the air between other activities.

If you're staying at Dunroamin Caravan Park over in Millisle, it's close enough for a morning outing - only about five miles away. Combine it with the rest of what this corner of County Down offers and it slots in easily. Worth the detour? Only if you're already in the area and fancy some undemanding leg-stretching. Don't travel specially for it.