Whelford Lakes Walks

The walks around Whelford Lakes are a proper treat if you're staying in the Fairford area - flat, easy going, and genuinely pleasant without feeling contrived. You're following paths around a series of lakes that were created from old gravel workings, which sounds industrial but actually works rather well. The water's clear, the banks are soft, and there's proper wildlife - herons, dragonflies, the lot.

It's the kind of place where you can clock up a few miles without thinking about it. An hour's amble gets you a decent sense of the lakes and the surrounding countryside, though walkers with time will easily stretch it to a couple of hours if you're in no rush. The terrain is genuinely easy, so families with younger kids won't struggle, though there's not much to do once you've walked the circuit - no visitor centre, no cafe, nothing like that.

Historians might find the industrial heritage angle interesting, but come here for the walking and the birds rather than deep history. If you're camped at Great Farm, it's barely a mile away, making it a natural addition to a few days' site time. The whole thing's free, obviously, and there are no real opening hours to speak of - you just turn up and walk.

Welsh water habitat enthusiasts will rate it, and anyone escaping the Cotswolds tourist trail for something quieter will find it does the job. Don't expect drama or views. Expect peace.