There aren't a lot of places that are truly quiet. I don't mean quiet in the sense that there's no noise, but where you can notice and pay attention to your thoughts.
Most of the sounds at Bolam Lake are natural: birds tweeting, trees rustling - okay, occasionally you here an engine go past but at least you can't see the cars. Even the swans here are mute.
The lake near Belsay is around half an hour by car from Newcastle. I grew up coming to Bolam and have brought friends and dates here, and found solace when needing time alone too - it helps that it's one of the easiest and most accessible places to embrace nature in Northumberland, so long as you have a car.
