The Pit

Water and sky merge into one at The Pit, a proper working lake just east of March where the Fenland flatness makes everything feel more dramatic than it has any right to. It's a flooded gravel extraction site, really - the sort of place that could've been left to weeds and disappointment but instead became somewhere locals actually want to spend time.

The main draw is straightforward: fishing. Anglers pitch up with their rods and cool boxes, spending the day waiting for pike, perch and roach. But you don't need a rod to enjoy it. The walking is gentle and uncluttered - paths loop around the water, and the light bouncing off the surface changes constantly depending on the weather. Bring binoculars if you're into birds. The open water attracts proper numbers of waterfowl, especially in autumn and winter.

It's free to visit and there's no faffing about with opening times - you just turn up. Allow an hour for a decent walk, longer if you're the sitting-and-watching type. Kids will get something out of it for maybe twenty minutes unless they're keen on spotting ducks.

Stay at Fields End Water, less than a tenth of a mile away, and you're brilliantly placed. The caravan park and glamping pods sit right there, so you can roll out of your accommodation straight onto the water's edge. Knightsbridge and Fenland Camping are also close by if Fields End is full. It's not dramatic or showy, but it's honest work for a morning's wander.