A tranquil haven, the two-and-a-half-mile-long Rudyard Lake was created more than two centuries ago to supply water for the expanding canal system. The area's history actually goes back as far as the 11th century, when it was known as 'Rudegeard' – and later, 'Rodehyerd' or 'Rudierd'. It's the place where Rudyard Kipling's parents met (and named their firstborn after), where Captain Webb trained to swim the channel, and where Carlos Trower walked a tightrope 30m above the water.

Today, it's a scenic location for walking, boating, sailing, fishing, and steam train rides along the reservoir. Set on the edge of the Peak District, Rudyard is home to dramatic scenery and hundreds of different species of wildlife.