Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre

These magnificent draft horses are something else. The Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre, just outside Northwich, is where you go to see the gentle giants that once pulled Britain's breweries and farms. Walking into the stables and standing next to a two-tonne animal that could kill you with one kick but looks at you with the softness of a spaniel - that hits differently.

You'll see the horses up close, learn how they're worked, and if you time it right, watch them being groomed or exercised. It's low-key stuff, no theme park theatrics, but that's rather the point. Kids absolutely love it, especially if they're horse-mad, though younger children might find an hour enough. Adults who grew up with these animals, or anyone interested in agricultural heritage, will get proper absorbed in the place.

The centre sits well within reach of the caravan parks scattered around here - Delamere Lake, Wild Shore, and Oakmere are all within a few miles - making it an easy half-day outing from base. Pair it with a walk through Delamere Forest if you're after a fuller day.

Admission details aren't widely publicised online, so ring ahead before you visit. It's the kind of place that rewards turning up without massive expectations and leaving chuffed you went. Not Instagram-famous, and better for it.