Semer Water Nature Reserve

The walk down to Semer Water from the car park near Leyburn is deceptively gentle - you'd be forgiven for thinking nothing much awaits. Then you round the bend and there it is: Yorkshire's largest natural freshwater lake, glassy and still, surrounded by proper fell-side scenery. It's the kind of place that makes you understand why people don't move away from this part of the world.

The reserve itself is manageable on foot. There's a circuit path that takes you along the shoreline, through woodland, and up towards the higher ground - count on an hour to ninety minutes depending on how often you stop to look at things. Birdwatchers come for the wildfowl, especially in winter and spring when the water teems with them. It's brilliant for that sort of serious observation, though families with younger kids might find the lack of facilities and attractions a bit limiting after the first thirty minutes.

What makes it work is the genuine quietness. You won't find cafes or gift shops, and that's rather the point. Bring binoculars if you've got them, decent boots because the paths can get muddy, and a sense that you're here to actually look at something rather than be entertained.

If you're based at one of the local campsites - Stablefell or Cherish Glamping are both close - this fits perfectly into a walking holiday around Wensleydale. It's free access and open year-round, though autumn and spring give you the best light and the fewest midges. Not Instagram-famous, but that's rather its charm.