Vicarage Pit

The water at Vicarage Pit catches you off guard - suddenly there's a proper lake where you weren't expecting one, just outside Witney in Oxfordshire. It's a former gravel extraction site that's evolved into something genuinely worth a visit, especially if you're camping nearby at Hardwick Parks or Lincoln Farm. The lake itself is peaceful, ringed by mature trees and relatively quiet compared to the busier tourist spots in the Cotswolds.

You can walk the perimeter easily enough, and it's the kind of place where locals bring fishing rods and families come for a gentle afternoon. The water's clear enough to watch the occasional carp, and birdwatchers tend to linger longer than most - winter brings duck and geese, spring gets interesting. There's something satisfying about spots like this that have quietly become more attractive than their origins suggest.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Cotswold Edge over at Ducklington is particularly well-regarded - Vicarage Pit makes a straightforward afternoon excursion. Not a destination in itself, but exactly the sort of accessible greenspace that makes a camping holiday in this part of Oxfordshire work well. Bring a picnic, give yourself an hour or so, and let the kids burn off some energy if they're with you. It won't blow your mind, but it's honest and unpretentious - no entrance fee nonsense, just a lake that's there if you want it.