Barpool Balancing Lake

The water sits perfectly still, balanced at a level that seems almost wrong. Barpool Balancing Lake near Atherstone is one of those peculiar natural phenomena that stops you mid-walk and makes you stare. It's a small lake in Leicestershire where the water level remains remarkably consistent thanks to underground springs that feed and drain it simultaneously - hence the name. You won't find rides or facilities here. What you get instead is a genuine bit of geology to wrap your head around, plus some decent walking country if you're exploring the wider area.

Walkers and curious types will appreciate this more than families expecting a day out. There's no playground, no café, no attractions in the traditional sense. What makes it worth the diversion is the walk itself and the strange satisfaction of standing at a place where nature has sorted its own plumbing system. On a clear day, the reflections are proper lovely, and the surrounding countryside gives you space to think.

If you're staying at Ettie's Field, the nearby caravan park less than five miles away, this is a straightforward half-hour drive to reach. Allow an hour to walk around the lake and absorb what you're looking at. It's free to visit and there are no opening hours to worry about - you can roll up whenever. Best visited when the weather's settled; muddy winter walks here feel less rewarding. Combine it with other Leicestershire attractions if you're making a day of it, but don't expect this to occupy more than a couple of hours.