Boundary Water Park

The lake at Boundary Water sits just outside Knutsford, a proper working piece of landscape rather than a manicured attraction. You'll find it's a former quarry that's flooded over the years, creating something genuinely useful for the local community - fishing, mostly, and the odd jogger doing loops around the perimeter.

It's not a destination you'd drive an hour to see on its own, but if you're camped at Woodlands Park just down the road, it's worth a walk. The water is functional rather than turquoise-postcard beautiful. Trees ring the edge, and there's enough of a path to get around without scrambling through undergrowth. Walkers appreciate it because you can do a decent circuit without crowds, and it gives you something to do between breakfast and checking what's on at nearby attractions.

Families with young children might find twenty minutes enough - it's not exactly thrilling unless your kids are serious about spotting waterfowl. Anglers obviously get the most from it, with established fishing spots along the bank. The whole thing is free, naturally, and you can turn up whenever you fancy.

The real advantage is proximity to Woodlands Park and the other caravan sites clustered around here. Use Boundary Water as part of a morning constitutional, then head into Knutsford proper for lunch. It's a pleasant addition to a Cheshire lakes holiday, not a headline event.