Ruddle Pit

Water stretches across what was once a working china clay pit, creating an unexpectedly serene spot in Cornwall's industrial landscape. Ruddle Pit sits quietly near Stenalees, its milky blue-green waters a striking contrast to the white clay spoil heaps that still dot this part of mid-Cornwall.

This isn't your typical Cornish lake experience - there are no facilities, no marked paths, and certainly no gift shop. What you get instead is a rather haunting beauty, with the flooded quarry creating an almost lunar landscape. The water's unusual colour comes from the clay sediment, giving it an ethereal quality that photographers seem to love.

Walkers and those after a bit of industrial heritage will find it most rewarding. Families with young children might struggle with the rough terrain and lack of proper access, though older kids often find the alien-like setting fascinating. It's free to visit, naturally, and you could easily combine it with a longer walk exploring Cornwall's china clay country.

Expect to spend about an hour here unless you're planning a proper hike. The area around East Crinnis Holiday Park and Tremarne Campsite puts you in decent range for a morning excursion, though don't expect this to fill a whole day. It's more of a curious detour than a headline attraction - interesting rather than spectacular.