Spring Mill Reservoir

The water stretches out grey and still under the Lancashire sky, surrounded by moorland that slopes away in every direction. Spring Mill Reservoir sits just outside Rossendale, a proper working water supply that's also become a magnet for walkers and folk after a bit of fresh air without the crowds of the Peak District.

You can walk the perimeter - it's not a long circuit, maybe forty minutes to an hour if you're pottering about with a camera. The path is well-maintained and mostly level, which means it suits families with younger kids, though there's little in the way of facilities or novelty to keep them entertained if they're the type who need constant stimulation. The real draw is the landscape itself: moorland meeting water, decent views across to the hills, and the occasional flash of birdlife if you're patient enough to stop and watch.

It's free to visit and there's parking nearby, making it a solid half-day option when you're based at somewhere like Dearden Wood or Rossendale Holiday Cottages. The weather can turn quickly up here - come prepared for wind and the possibility of rain even when you leave your accommodation thinking it'll be fine. Best visited outside peak summer weekends when it's genuinely quiet. Walkers will get the most from it; kids and non-hikers might find an hour more than enough. It's the sort of place that rewards you for making the effort, but only if you're the sort who finds water views and moorland scenery rewarding in themselves.