St Johns Lake

St Johns Lake sits just outside Witney, a proper surprise if you're exploring the Oxfordshire countryside. It's a working gravel pit that's been transformed into a leisure spot - shallow, reed-fringed water that attracts fishermen and the occasional birdwatcher. The setting is understated rather than dramatic, with modest facilities and a car park that fills up on weekends.

This is fundamentally a place for anglers. If you fish, you'll find decent pike and carp stocks and a low-key community vibe. Non-anglers can walk the perimeter - it takes about 40 minutes at a steady pace - which offers enough pastoral views to justify an afternoon if you're in the area. The water reflects sky nicely on clear days, and there's something calming about the flatness of it all.

With Hardwick Parks just half a mile away, it works as an easy bolt-on to a caravan holiday in the area rather than a standalone destination. Families after a quick leg-stretch will manage 20 minutes here before getting restless. Real walkers will find better terrain elsewhere in the Cotswolds, though the lake makes an okay pit stop between longer routes.

Free access as far as I can tell, with no formal opening hours - it's the sort of place you just turn up to. Bring binoculars if wildlife interests you; bring patience if it doesn't. Worth knowing about if you're based nearby, but not worth driving far out of your way for.