Alton Bridge Hotel

Pack your sandwiches and head to this proper old-fashioned riverside spot just outside Uttoxeter. The Alton Bridge Hotel might sound like accommodation, but it's actually become a lovely picnic site where families spread out along the grassy banks of the River Churnet. You'll find decent parking and enough space for the kids to run about without worrying about traffic.

Families with young children get the most from this place - there's something about water that keeps them entertained for hours. The bridge itself makes for decent photos, and dog walkers seem to favour the spot for obvious reasons. It's not spectacular, mind you, just a pleasant patch of countryside that does the job when you need somewhere to eat your lunch outdoors.

Location-wise, you're well placed for exploring this corner of Staffordshire. Lower Micklin Touring Park sits just a mile away, while Alton's Star Camping and Caravanning Club Site is within easy reach at two miles. The area around Uttoxeter offers plenty of walking opportunities, and this makes a handy halfway point if you're touring the local holiday parks. Allow an hour or so unless the children are particularly taken with stone-throwing into the river - then you might be there considerably longer.