Beacon View Lake

The water at Beacon View Lake sits still most mornings, which means if you time it right - early, before the day gets properly going - you'll see the whole sky reflected back at you. It's a proper calming spot just outside Skelmersdale, Lancashire, though it's not somewhere you'd spend all day unless you're really into watching birds or bringing a book.

What you're looking at is a former quarry that's been allowed to fill with water and soften around the edges. There's a walking path that loops the perimeter - nothing strenuous, maybe forty minutes to an hour depending on your pace - and a few benches dotted round where locals sit with flasks. Fishermen come here. So do dog walkers. On weekends it gets busier but never crowded.

It's free to visit and there's no faffing about with gates or tickets. Car parking is basic but adequate. The real appeal is simplicity: if you're staying at The Secret Garden Glamping, just four and a half miles away, and you want a gentle morning walk that won't eat into the day, this works well. You won't get the dramatic fell views you'd get heading further north, but you'll get quietness and some proper fresh air.

Not a destination in itself. More of a half-morning slot if you're already in the area. Worth knowing about if you're planning a caravan or glamping stay locally and fancy a break from the usual park routine.