Clay Pits

The water at Clay Pits is surprisingly clear for a former industrial site. This lake near Newtownards started life as a clay extraction pit and has transformed into a proper little spot for walking, fishing, and general mucking about by the water. The shoreline's unmanicured - reeds, rough grass, the odd bit of overgrown machinery if you look hard enough - which gives it character other managed lakes lack.

It's best suited to walkers and anglers rather than families after a day of activities. You can do a circuit in under an hour if you're not stopping, longer if you're the type to pause for photographs or sit on the bank watching for fish. The water attracts wildfowl, particularly in winter, so birdwatchers should bring binoculars.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, though there's no formal visitor infrastructure - no café, no facilities, just you and the outdoors. That's either brilliant or disappointing depending on your outlook. It's quiet enough that you'll rarely feel crowded, which counts for something.

If you're based at Springvale Holiday Park or Silverbay Caravan Park nearby, Clay Pits works well as a morning walk before heading to busier attractions. It won't fill a day on its own, but it's worth a detour if you're in the area and fancy something low-key. Don't expect manicured gardens or visitor attractions - what you get is a genuine slice of ordinary countryside quietly going about its business.