Brookside Miniature Railway

There's something deeply satisfying about watching a miniature steam engine chug along its track, especially when you've got a five-year-old pointing at every carriage like it's the discovery of a lifetime. Brookside Miniature Railway, just outside Macclesfield, is exactly that sort of place - a proper working railway in miniature, with genuine steam locos that actually pull passenger carriages rather than just sitting there looking ornamental.

You get on board and trundle along the track, proper slowly, the kind of pace that lets you actually notice things rather than whizz past them. The track winds through grounds that feel a world away from the town, and kids genuinely lose their minds over it. Adults who've harboured secret trainspotter tendencies since childhood won't admit how much they enjoy it either, but they do.

It's the sort of day out that works best for families with younger children - say under ten. Teenagers will find it a bit thin unless they're genuinely into railways. Allow a couple of hours maximum, including a browse around if there's a gift shop or refreshments on site.

If you're staying at Eastwood End Caravan Park just down the road, this makes a solid half-day detour. It's not going to blow your mind if you've travelled hours to see it, but if you're in the area anyway, it's the kind of thing that breaks up a park holiday nicely. Spring and summer are best - less chance of cancellations due to weather.