Gosford Park

The lake at Gosford is what draws you in first - a proper expanse of water that catches the light beautifully on clear days, ringed by mature trees and open grassland. It's one of those parks that works because nobody's tried too hard to make it theatrical. You can walk the perimeter easily enough, feed the ducks if you've brought bread, sit on one of the benches and watch the light change across the water. The whole place has a calm, unhurried feel to it.

Historically, Gosford's got some gravitas - there's the old hall in the grounds, though public access varies. Most visitors come for the straightforward pleasure of the outdoors: a gentle stroll with the dog, a picnic lunch on the grass, or just somewhere to sit and think. Kids will entertain themselves for an hour or two hunting for wildlife, but this isn't an attraction with bells and whistles. It's only about four miles from Coventry town centre, so it works well as a break from urban exploring rather than a day trip in itself.

Since it's open dawn to dusk year-round (free to enter), it pairs nicely with a caravan stay at nearby Hollyfast or Broadwell Woods. Either base would give you the flexibility to pop over for a walk without committing to anything grand. Spring's particularly lovely when the trees are fresh. Allow an hour for a decent circuit, longer if you're the lingering type.