Boating Lake

The Boating Lake sits just outside Colchester, a proper working water if you're after something beyond the usual park-based activities. It's the sort of place where you'll see rowing clubs actually using the water rather than it being cordoned off for decoration - that's the appeal, really.

You can hire a boat if you're competent, or just walk the perimeter and watch the activity. The lake itself is fairly straightforward - no fancy cafes or visitor centres, which means it stays quiet. Families with older kids who can handle a bit of unsupervised exploration will get more from it than those needing constant entertainment. Young children might manage twenty minutes before asking when you're leaving.

If you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Colchester Country Park is barely a mile and a half away, which is walkable - it's a reasonable evening wander to blow off steam. Rushbanks Farm and Ardleigh Caravan & Camping Park are both within five miles, so none of them are badly positioned if you fancy a change of scenery from the caravan.

Timing matters. Early morning when the rowing clubs are out and the light's decent is better than a drizzly afternoon when the place just feels a bit flat. It's free to access, takes an hour if you're leisurely about it, but don't expect to spend a whole day here. It works as part of a bigger Colchester day out rather than as the main event.