Serpent

The Serpent is a proper fishing lake just outside Melton Mowbray, and it's the sort of place where you'll either love the peace or find yourself wondering why you've driven this far for a glorified pond. It's a working fishery - so anglers are the main event here - but the walk around it is pleasant enough if you're after a bit of air and don't mind sharing the space with people casting lines.

The lake itself is fairly modest in size, ringed by trees and the kind of stillness you get when water's undisturbed save for the occasional fish rise. There's not much in the way of facilities or visitor infrastructure, which means it's either refreshingly low-key or disappointingly basic depending on your mood. Kids might manage twenty minutes of duck-spotting before getting restless.

Walkers will find it a useful addition to a broader ramble around the area, rather than a destination in itself. The footpaths are accessible enough, though nothing dramatic in terms of views. If you're staying at The Grange Camping and Caravan Park or Frisby Lakes Lodge Park nearby - both excellent bases - the Serpent makes a decent morning potter. Frisby Lakes itself has far more going on if you want water activities with less effort.

Go if you're a keen angler or you enjoy undisturbed countryside. Skip it if you're after something with more to do. Admission appears to be free, though fishing rights are another matter entirely.