Meldon Reservoir on Dartmoor near Okehampton is usually a very bleak and windswept place. The dam is quite an impressive sight, especially from below, and there are pleasant walks around the edges of the lake which are quite photogenic in Summer and Autumn if there is a blue sky. If you would like to walk up the valley to the base of the dam then there is a carpark up by the Quarry (turn off the old A30 opposite Betty Cottles rather than going up towards the dam itself which is on the Meldon village road.) The valley route really requires stout walking boots and you'll need to cross a little stream on the way. There are numerous quarry workings there as well as a rather interesting, but dangerous, flooded quarry. But for a real treat on a sunny afternoon when there is a blue sky and it is not too windy, why not walk all the way around the reservoir - a distance of about 4-5km which should take you about 2 hours if you stop to enjoy the vews. The best way is to do it is anti-clockwise (walk up the steps from the car park and then directly across the road and up through the gate into the field where you can follow the signs) for not only will the water and sky be nice and blue and there will be magificent views of the lake with the dramatic backdop of Dartmoor, but when you get to the top end past the island you'll be able to walk down the steep flight of concrete steps (about 30M) rather than having to climb them. There is a little stone bridge at the bottom to get you across the river. On the way back you'll cross another little stream, making it an interesting walk for fit children as well as for dogs who might want a drink.