Press Reservoir No 1

The water here is startlingly clear on a decent day - you'll see straight down to the pebbled bed if you lean over the dam. Press Reservoir No 1 sits just outside Chesterfield, a proper working water supply that's been doing its job since the 1880s, which means you get that lovely Victorian engineering feel without any of the museum stuffiness.

Walkers will get the most from this spot. The reservoir has a decent footpath running around it, taking roughly an hour depending on pace and how many times you stop to watch the water. It's flat, straightforward going - fine for families with kids who can manage a steady walk, though toddlers might find the length tedious. The views are genuine rather than showy: open moorland rising behind the water, no crowds, and in autumn the light hits it properly golden.

It's free to access and you can turn up whenever suits you. Early morning is best if you want it quiet, and there's something about the stillness of the water at dawn that makes the whole walk worthwhile. Bring binoculars if you're into birds - herons fish here regularly and you'll spot ducks most of the year.

For a camping holiday in the area, this works well as a gentle morning walk before heading to one of the nearby parks. Spire View Yurts is barely five minutes away, so you could do a quick reservoir circuit and be back for breakfast. It's not the Lakes, but it's free, it's local, and it does exactly what it says - no pretence required.