Balderton Lake

Water and flatlands - that's what you get at Balderton Lake, just outside Newark. It's a proper working gravel pit turned leisure spot, the sort of place that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards a quiet visit. The lake itself is the main draw: clear enough for fishing, wide enough to feel like you've actually left town behind, even though you're barely three miles away.

Walkers will find the path around the water manageable and genuinely pleasant. The views are understated - no dramatic cliffs or mountain backdrops - but there's something calming about the Nottinghamshire flatness and the way light plays across the lake depending on time of day. Birds use it too, so bring binoculars if you're into that.

Families with young children might get a couple of hours out of it before restlessness sets in. It's not a theme park. No cafés, no facilities to speak of. You come here to walk, to fish if you're licensed, or simply to sit and do nothing, which is increasingly rare. Bring a coffee from Newark and make an afternoon of it.

The surrounding area has several glamping and caravan parks within a five-mile radius - Witham Grange Glamping is closest - so it works well as a low-key side trip during a longer break. Free to visit and open to the public, though facilities are minimal. Allow an hour or two, depending on your pace and whether you fancy a full circuit.