Chapelhouse Reservoir

Water sits unnaturally still here, trapped behind a concrete dam in the middle of the Lakeland fells. Chapelhouse Reservoir is one of those practical things - built to serve Keswick with drinking water - that somehow becomes rather lovely once you've made the effort to find it. It's a proper walk in from the nearest road, which keeps the crowds away and means you get the place almost to yourself on a weekday afternoon.

The reservoir works best as a detour rather than a destination in itself. If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Kestrel Lodge is closest at just over two miles - it's a cracking excuse for a couple of hours away from the main lake tourist trail. The walk gives you quiet fell scenery without the carnival atmosphere of Derwent Water. On a clear day you can see Skiddaw looming above, which puts things in perspective. There's nothing fancy here - no cafés, no facilities, no interpretive boards. Just water, hills, and peace.

Walkers will find it worthwhile; families with small children might find the hike a bit much for the payoff. Allow a couple of hours there and back from Keswick. Spring and early autumn are best - summer brings the occasional scramble of other visitors, and winter can be grim when low cloud settles in. It slots well into a broader Lakes walking holiday, particularly if you're staying around Skiddaw View or Wallace Lane Farm and want something less trampled than the main attractions.