Sunbiggin Tarn

The walk to Sunbiggin Tarn takes you up onto the high moorland south of Appleby-in-Westmorland, and it's genuinely worth the effort. This moorland lake sits at around 500 metres, so you're getting proper views across the Pennines once you've climbed to it. The tarn itself is quietly beautiful - moorland reflections, few people, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think.

It's a destination for walkers rather than casual visitors. You'll need proper boots and a decent map; there's no visitor centre or facilities, just the landscape. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and which route you take from the nearby villages. Spring and autumn tend to be best - summer can feel a bit exposed up there, and winter requires careful navigation.

Families with young children might find the moorland walk a slog for small legs, but older kids who enjoy hiking will get something from it. This is really for people who want solitude and a proper sense of being out in the Pennines. The tarn makes sense as part of a longer walking holiday in the area - combine it with trips to Appleby's market or nearby dales.

If you're staying at Wild Rose Holiday Park just down the road, Sunbiggin offers a half-day escape that feels genuinely remote, even though civilisation isn't far below. It's not dramatic like mountain tarns further north, but it's got character.