Lake Superior

The water's dark and still when you first spot it from the lane near Ripon - proper surprising to find something this substantial tucked into the Yorkshire countryside. Lake Superior is exactly what it says: a genuine lake, not some ornamental pond, and it's genuinely worth a detour if you're staying at one of the nearby parks.

It's a straightforward spot for a walk round the water, with decent paths that won't have you scrambling through mud even after rain. The lake pulls in walkers and families after a bit of fresh air without the climbing involved in heading up to the Dales proper. On a clear day there's something calming about the flatness of it all, especially if you've been tramping around hillier territory.

You won't need more than an hour or two here unless you're the type to sit with a flask and watch the light change. It's free to access, and the nearest town of Ripon is close enough that you could combine it with a proper look around the cathedral and market square without any faffing about.

If you're base camp at Sleningford Watermill or Woodhouse Farm Holiday Park - both genuinely good parks - this works as a pleasant morning activity before moving on to grander attractions elsewhere. It won't knock your socks off, but it's a solid choice for breaking up a park holiday with something different from the usual woodland walks.