Harbour

The Harbour at Melton Mowbray is essentially a working waterway - part canal, part reservoir - that cuts through the town with a surprising amount of charm for what you might initially mistake for just a functional stretch of water. You get a proper towpath walk here, flat and straightforward, which means it's genuinely accessible for families with pushchairs or anyone who finds steep country walks a bit much.

What makes it worth stopping for is the mix of activity. You'll see narrowboats, the occasional angler, and if you time it right, some decent birdlife along the banks. It's not dramatic scenery - no fell vistas or dramatic gorges - but it's pleasant enough for an hour's wander, particularly if you're already in town for the famous pork pies or the livestock market.

The real value here is as a breather between other attractions. You're close enough to walking distance of Melton's high street, and if you're staying at The Grange Camping and Caravan Park just down the road, this gives you somewhere flat and easy to stretch your legs without needing a car. Kids won't spend all day here, but they might enjoy spotting boats or feeding ducks for twenty minutes before you head back to the park.

Free to access, obviously - it's just a public waterway. Best visited on a dry day when the path isn't muddy, and early morning or late afternoon when the town traffic quietens down. It's functional rather than spectacular, but then sometimes functional is exactly what a holiday needs.