So my quite frankly surreal and random love of water is a bit of a problem for someone living in…read moreYorkshire isn't it? Ha, I laugh in the face of your chortles. Of course not. We have water and plenty of it. We've also got electricty and phone lines outside of London too. I know, it's surprising. What I'm talking about is "real" water and what better place to go than Eccup Reservoir. It's a pearler of an area for some real clarity and fresh air. Beautiful walks ahoy then sailor and more natural splendor than you can shake a stick at. They've also invested heavily in preserving the glourious Red Kites and it is now home to over 100 of the bad boys. Great to see them in full flight. So twitchers can have a field day and the rest of us can also enjoy the array of wildlife on offer. There are also rumours and various sightings (not sure if Special Brew was involved) of a mysterious big cat in the area. Personally I don't believe them as the Yeti would've eaten it. A sure fire hit and worth a trip out to Alwoodley for anyone's money.

My boyfriend convinced me to go on a cycling mission to Eccup reservoir recently. He has a knack of…read moremaking a million miles away sound really close and as I was pressed for time I began to whinge part way there when I realised this wasn't the 15 minute bike ride I'd planned for, being about seven miles up hill! Upon arrival I stopped whingeing immediately. The sun was just beginning to set, and the reservoir, which is HUGE looked absolutely breathtaking! We stopped to catch our breath and as we gazed out across the water I couldn't believe we were within cycling distance of home. Before it got too dark to see much we cheekily jumped a couple of gates to get closer to the water. The reservoir was so still and the trees formed silhouettes against the darkening sky as we stood on the pebbly shore. If you feel the urge to get out of the city for some peace, fresh air and beautiful views, Eccup reservoir is the perfect place!

I have been a couple of times now it is a hidden gem! it has a nice cafe that does a great breaky…read moreand propper coffee's too! they have just started doing a sunday roast. The lakes are well maintained and the staff are friendly and best of all the place is dog friendly!

it is a good place to fish and some days will fish very well and some not i find the bend of the…read morecarp lake is a good peg i have cought plenty from that peg

Yeadon Tarn is a lovely place to visit if you have small children or dogs that need walking. With a…read morenice dam to walk around, plenty of ducks and concrete pathway, its a surefire winner. It features a bandstand, childrens park area and even has its own sailing club. The park is open to the public all year round and has exciting views of the aeroplane strip at Leeds Bradford Airport. There are numerous picnic areas and fishing opportunities. I prefer to visit extremely early in the morning to have a run and I must say, it is rather beautiful at sunrise...

This is a great place to stretch your legs on a weekend. No matter what the weather this place…read morealways seems to be busy. The path way around the tarn is suitable for little ones on bikes or wheel chairs. There's a children's play area, band stand, picnic tables, bike track, benches and plenty of parking. I love visiting in the winter when the water is frozen over and the ground is covered in snow. It's beautiful! Just a note: as I am local to the area on my last visit I noticed a fair bit if litter not exactly at the tarn but the surrounding areas.. If we all club together and bin our rubbish or even pick other peoples up and dispose if it we can all help keep this place looking nice for others :-)

As picturesque as it gets in Bolton, the Jumbles is a firm favourite for locals and outsiders…read morealike. This was at full testimony on my last walk (Sunday) when the weather had perked up a little as almost half of Bolton had decided to do the same! That could sound quite negative but it's definitely not, theres room and space for all. Most would say it's better when the sun is shining and you don't need to wrap up like you're about to tackle an blizzard on Snowdon, but sometimes it's just as beautiful to walk round when it's bitterly cold and the trees are frosting in stead of blooming. I'm very lucky to have this on my doorstep although I don't utilise it enough. If you're looking for a new walking route or a different reservoir to explore, make the Jumbles your next stop - and call in at my house for a cuppa on your way out!

Massive lake I like going with my dog to watch the boats and people trying to sail lol and round it…read moreis a near by woods were I can take my dog for a walk and at the end of the woods there a canal were you can have a seat and watch the barges go by

One of our favourite local beauty spots. There's a very pleasant one-hour walk around Entwistle…read moreReservoir with a well-defined path (although it can get a bit boggy in damp weather), and it's a popular spot for joggers and dog-walkers. There's plenty of parking there too, although I think they've just started charging for it. The place is very pretty at any time of year, but the trees in autumn are especially beautiful. It will always be a special place for me because I proposed to my wife half-way round -- but I'm sorry to report, true romantic that I am, that I didn't get down on one knee as it was still a bit muddy from some recent rain

an excellent reservoir to visit, plenty for the children including a dedicated play area that is…read morefenced off with a cattle grid as well to stop any unwanted animals entering the playground, exept the flying kind!