Upper Gorple Reservoir

You'll find Upper Gorple Reservoir tucked into the moorland above Trawden, a proper working water supply that doubles as one of Lancashire's quieter walking destinations. It's not dramatic or grand, but there's something straightforward about it - the kind of place where the landscape just gets on with being itself without needing a visitor centre or gift shop.

The walk around the reservoir takes the best part of an hour depending on your pace and how many times you stop to actually look at things. The water's dark and reflective, backed by moorland that shifts colour with the seasons. You might see grouse, or just hear them. The path is decent underfoot, though it gets boggy if there's been rain, which there usually has been.

This works best for people who actually like walking rather than people who think they ought to like walking. Kids under ten will probably get bored unless they're the type to spend an hour turning over rocks and looking for newts. Photographers come here for the light and the lack of crowds - you won't be jostling for the same spot as fifty other people with phones.

If you're staying at Trawden Forest Glamping or Old Chamber Camping nearby, it's an easy half-day outing that doesn't require planning. Free to access, though there's nowhere to park right at the reservoir - you'll walk in from the surrounding lanes. Go early if the weather's decent; moorland mist rolls in fast here.