Troy Lake

The water at Troy Lake sits perfectly still on a good day, which makes the whole thing feel rather like someone's turned up the saturation on reality. It's a modest stretch of water near Uxbridge, the sort of place locals seem to know about while visitors drive straight past heading for bigger attractions.

This is proper walker territory. The lake itself is fine enough - decent spot for a paddle if you're into that sort of thing, or just standing about looking at water while the ducks ignore you. But the real appeal is the walking. The routes around it are gentle enough that you won't arrive at Highclere Caravan and Camping Park (just four miles away) absolutely knackered, but they're long enough that you'll feel like you've actually done something. Works well if you're basing yourself at the park and want to get out without driving anywhere.

Timing-wise, go early morning or late afternoon if you can. The place gets a bit odd when the afterwork crowd shows up on a nice evening. Summer's obvious, but autumn's actually better - fewer people, better light, and you won't melt in the humidity.

It's free, you can stay as long as you like, and there's no charge for the car park. Nothing fancy, no cafes or facilities to speak of, which is either a plus or a minus depending on whether you've packed a flask. If you want drama and views, keep driving. If you want a reliable, straightforward walk and a bit of peace, you could do worse.