Cotton Dell

A shallow lake surrounded by woodland just outside Stoke-on-Trent, Cotton Dell is the sort of place locals know about and tourists often miss. The water's calm, the banks are wooded, and there's a decent footpath that loops around if you fancy a gentle walk. It's free to access and takes about 45 minutes to an hour to do the circuit comfortably, longer if you stop to watch the waterfowl or just sit and do nothing.

This works best for families with younger kids or anyone after a quiet couple of hours away from the potteries. Dog walkers love it. History buffs won't find much to grab onto here - it's nature rather than heritage - but that's rather the point. The water's too murky for swimming and there are no facilities to speak of, so don't arrive expecting a beach day.

It pairs nicely with the surrounding campsite options. Intake Farm is closest at just over four miles away, while Field Head Farm and Springfields offer similar easy access if you're basing yourself for a park holiday in the area. Do Cotton Dell as a morning walk, then head back for lunch. Go mid-week if you can - weekends pull in more families and the quiet gets compromised. Winter's actually lovely here when the trees are bare and you can see properly across the water. Summer's popular but can feel a bit crowded given how small it is.