Hastings Pool

A decent walk from Worcester brings you to Hastings Pool, a proper lake that sits quietly in the Worcestershire countryside. The water's clear enough and the banks are lined with trees, which makes it feel more secluded than you'd expect given how close the town is. It's the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think - no crowds, no noise, just water and woodland.

What you get here depends entirely on what you're after. Walkers will appreciate the circuit around the pool itself, which takes a solid hour and gives you a chance to spot waterfowl without the fuss of a proper nature reserve. If you're fishing, this is your spot - locals bring rods and settle in for the afternoon. Families with younger kids might find it a bit limited; there's the walk and the view, but not much else to keep them engaged for hours on end.

I'd allow 90 minutes to two hours if you're doing the full loop at a leisurely pace. It's free to access, and there's no real seasonal restriction on when to visit, though autumn's particularly decent when the trees turn.

It sits well within reach of the holiday parks clustered around Worcester - Seaborne Leisure, Hop Pickers, and the others are all within five miles. Perfect as a morning excursion from your base, paired with a proper walk somewhere bigger like Symonds Yat or the Malverns if you want more substantial terrain. Not a destination in itself, but a solid addition to a Worcestershire trip.