Dutton Locks

The Weaver Navigation cuts through Cheshire with a quiet, industrial grace, and Dutton Locks is where you really feel it - a working set of three locks that still move boats between different water levels. It's not flashy. There's no visitor centre or gift shop, just the mechanism itself: red-painted iron, worn stone, and the sound of water doing what it's been doing for centuries.

This is proper canal architecture, the kind that makes you understand how the country moved goods before railways arrived. Watch a narrowboat operator work through the locks if you're lucky - it's hypnotic, methodical work. The towpath here is well-maintained, so you can walk alongside and see how the whole thing functions. Bring a camera; the angles are excellent, especially in low light when the metalwork shows its age.

It appeals most to canal enthusiasts and industrial history types rather than families wanting a day out, though kids who like machinery won't complain. Walkers using the Weaver Way will pass straight through. Allow 20 minutes to half an hour unless you're the sort who sits and watches boats for an hour - many do.

Based near Oakmere, it's within striking distance of Delamere Forest and several caravan parks including Blakemere and Delamere Lake if you're staying put for a week. On its own, Dutton Locks is a brief stop, but combined with a longer canal walk or nearby forest rambles, it's worth the detour.