Roerigg Tarn

You'll find Roerigg Tarn tucked away in the fells above Grange-over-Sands, a proper little water-filled bowl that hardly anyone seems to know about. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. The walk up takes maybe forty minutes from the nearest access point, and the tarn itself is surrounded by moorland and low fell slopes - no dramatic peaks looming over it, but that's rather the point. On a clear day the water reflects everything brilliantly, and in weak sunlight it takes on this almost grey-green tint that photographs rather well.

Historically it's a working reservoir, though that doesn't spoil the landscape one bit. You can walk the perimeter if you're so inclined, though there's no formal path - just pick your way along the bank on relatively decent ground. Children will probably get bored after an hour unless they're the type who genuinely enjoy fell walking; teenagers might find it sufficiently remote to warrant the effort.

The real draw is solitude. If you're staying at Old Park Wood just down the valley, this is an excellent half-day objective that feels a world away from the busier Lake District honeypots. There's no café, no visitor centre, no facilities whatsoever, so come prepared with water and a snack. Free to visit, naturally. Spring and early summer are your best bets, when the moorland isn't quite so boggy and the light holds longer into the evening.