Bretherton Swim Academy

It's a proper working leisure facility rather than a tourist attraction, but if you're staying at Royal Umpire Caravan Park or any of the other nearby sites, Bretherton Swim Academy is genuinely useful. Located just outside Much Hoole Moss Houses, it's the sort of place where locals take their kids for swimming lessons and lengths, not somewhere you'd necessarily detour for during a caravan holiday.

The pool itself is standard leisure centre fare - indoor swimming with shallow and deeper sections, so families with young children can get them in the water without fuss. It's clean, functional, and staffed properly. Whether you're talking to the reception about lane swimming times or just turning up for a casual splash about, you'll find it straightforward enough.

Really, this is most useful on a rainy afternoon when you've got restless children and the weather's turned miserable. The nearby parks - Donkey Creek Farm and Leisure Lakes are both within striking distance - don't exactly scream entertainment, so having a pool in the area is a genuine bonus. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking the family in for a proper session; don't expect anything fancy beyond the basics. Admission and opening hours vary, so ring ahead before you travel over from your park.

If you're after proper attractions, the Lancashire coast and local country walks will serve you better. But as a practical facility for keeping dry kids occupied? It does the job.