Tegg's Nose Reservoir

The walk up to Tegg's Nose Reservoir from Macclesfield is steep enough to make your calves remember it, but the effort pays off. You get a proper reservoir - all grey-blue water ringed by moorland - rather than some manicured tourist attraction. There's a visitor centre at the top with the basics: toilets, a car park, information boards about the Pennine landscape. The whole place feels working and authentic, which is refreshing.

This is walker territory, really. The paths around the reservoir take an hour or so if you're leisurely, longer if you fancy exploring the moorland beyond. Families with younger kids might find it a bit of a schlep getting up there, though older ones will enjoy the scramble and the views back towards Macclesfield. On a clear day you can see proper distance across the Cheshire plain. It's free to visit, and there's something about a working reservoir that beats a manicured lake every time.

If you're based at Kisswood Cabins or Avona Escapes - both within five miles - Tegg's Nose makes for a good half-day out. Don't expect crowds or facilities beyond the basics. Go for the raw moorland feel and the honest walk, not Instagram moments.