Crick Wharf

The Grand Union Canal slices through Leicestershire with surprising charm, and Crick Wharf - just outside Lutterworth - is one of its quieter access points. You get a proper canalside walk here, the sort where you can actually hear yourself think instead of fighting weekend crowds. The wharf itself is straightforward: water, towpath, a handful of moored narrowboats, and the kind of flat Midlands landscape that grows on you after about twenty minutes.

It's ideal for a gentle couple of hours rather than a full day out. Families with young kids will manage the easy walking, though there's not much to actually do once you've had a look around - no café, no playground, just the canal itself. Canal enthusiasts and walkers will find it proper worthwhile, especially if you're tracking along the Grand Union's full stretch. The towpath's well-maintained and you can walk towards Crick village one way or head towards Lutterworth the other without much fuss.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks dotted around the area - Steepleton Lodge Glamping or Bunkers Hill Farm are both within four miles - this makes a nice post-breakfast stroll before moving on to something bigger. Honestly, it's the sort of spot you'd combine with a visit to nearby Stanford Hall rather than make it your main event. Go when the weather's decent and the towpath's dry. Free to visit, naturally, since it's just canal access.