Catterick Garrison Leisure Centre

The leisure centre sits on the Catterick Garrison site, about fifteen minutes' drive south of Leyburn, and it's your best bet for getting the kids in the water without driving into Darlington or Richmond. The pool itself is standard military-base fare - a decent indoor set-up with a main pool and a smaller learning pool, nothing fancy, but it does the job. Locals use it seriously; you'll see school groups in the mornings and lap swimmers getting their lengths in at off-peak times. Families with young children will find it functional rather than thrilling. There's no wave machine or flume, so don't expect theme-park energy.

What makes it worth knowing about is its usefulness during a Wensleydale break. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Yorkshire Dales Holiday Park is barely six miles away, or Eastfield Glamping Farm if you're after something a touch more upmarket - it's a solid indoor option when the weather turns grim. Plan for ninety minutes, maybe two hours if you're making a proper session of it. The changing facilities are adequate if uninspiring. Getting the exact opening hours means ringing ahead or checking with your accommodation - the garrison operates it, so holiday times can be a bit unpredictable. Admission isn't free, though it's reasonable enough that families don't balk at it. Worth it as a contingency plan on a rainy Tuesday, less so as a destination in its own right.