Tench Lake

The water at Tench Lake sits dead still most mornings, mirror-flat and ringed by conifers that tower like sentries. It's a modest spot on the edge of Dartmoor near Okehampton - nothing flashy, just proper peaceful. You can walk right around it, maybe forty minutes at a leisurely pace, and the whole thing has that slightly forgotten feel that makes you wonder why more people don't come here.

It's ideal for anyone wanting a straightforward lakeside ramble without the crowds you'd get at the honeypot spots. Families with younger kids will find it manageable - the path is generally clear and the walk isn't punishing. Walkers in particular tend to like it as a warm-up or cool-down during longer moorland days. The fishing folk clearly know about it; you'll often see them camped on the banks with thermoses and patience.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which means it's genuinely free and as undeveloped as lakes come these days. I'd allow an hour if you're doing the circuit leisurely, maybe more if you fancy sitting and actually looking at the thing. Early morning or late afternoon is when it's nicest - the light catches the water properly and you avoid the afternoon crush (not that there usually is one).

If you're based at Wolf Wood Treehouses a few miles away, this makes a decent leg-stretcher between paddling in the treetops and heading into Okehampton proper. Not a destination in itself, but well worth the short drive if you're in the area.