Clint Hill Quarry

The water at Clint Hill Quarry is genuinely blue - that proper turquoise that makes you stop and stare when you round the corner from Leicester. This old quarry has flooded to create a lake that feels oddly serene given it's barely a mile from Fortway Farm Leisure & Fishery.

It's primarily a fishing spot, which means walkers and casual visitors should check access before turning up - the place is geared towards anglers with rods rather than families wanting a paddle. That said, the landscape around it has genuine appeal. The water reflects the surrounding trees rather nicely, and there's something satisfying about the sheer drop of the old quarry walls if you're into industrial archaeology.

You're looking at a quick visit rather than a full afternoon's outing. Thirty minutes to walk round the perimeter, maybe an hour if you're the sort who sits and sketches. The real draw is how different it is from typical Midlands scenery - less manicured than a country park, more like something you've stumbled upon.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - The Paddocks is three miles away, Mallory Meadows a shade under four - it's worth a morning constitutional. Just ring ahead or check the website first. Access rules for non-fishermen aren't entirely clear, and you don't want to find yourself turned away when you've made the trip.