Dishley Pool

Dishley Pool sits on the outskirts of Loughborough as a proper working landscape feature rather than a tourist attraction in the conventional sense. It's an old mill pond that's been there for centuries, surrounded by open fields and the sort of walk that makes you understand why people move to the Midlands. The water itself is fairly ordinary - don't expect turquoise or drama - but it's the quietness around it that gets you. On a weekday afternoon, you'll have the place to yourself.

It works best for walkers and anyone after a straightforward country ramble rather than families wanting adrenaline. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're doing a loop around it, longer if you're connecting it to other paths in the area. There's no admission fee - it's simply accessible from the surrounding footpaths.

The real value is how it fits into a broader Leicestershire walking trip. Staying at Midshires Way Campsite, just three miles away, gives you easy access to this and dozens of other local trails without needing to pile everyone in the car. High Meadows Farm and Meadow Farm Marina are equally well-placed for exploring the wider countryside. It's the sort of place you stumble upon when you're properly exploring the region rather than rushing between big-name attractions. If you're after wild countryside drama, look elsewhere. But if you want to understand what the East Midlands actually feels like beyond the towns, Dishley Pool delivers.