Lawton Hall Pool

The pool at Lawton Hall is a proper tranquil spot if you're after a quiet water escape in Cheshire. It's a small lake surrounded by decent enough greenery, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think - no fairground soundtrack, no shrieking slides. Walkers gravitate here because there's a reasonable loop around it, and on a clear day the water reflects the sky rather nicely. The whole thing takes about forty minutes to walk round at a leisurely pace, maybe an hour if you dawdle and spot birds. History buffs might find the hall itself worth a glance too, though it's private property so you're admiring from the perimeter.

Families with younger kids will get about an hour out of it before boredom sets in unless they're the type who genuinely enjoy spotting ducks and looking at reflections. Fishing enthusiasts should check ahead - some of these old estate pools still allow it, but I'd ring ahead to be certain.

The nearest proper town is Stoke-on-Trent, which is only a short drive away, so this works brilliantly as a peaceful morning before heading into the busier attractions elsewhere. Both Yellowstone Camping and Caravan at Smallwood and Sky View Caravan Park are close enough that you could base yourself there and pop over without faffing about with directions. Admission appears to be free, which is one less thing to faff with. Go early if you can - there's something about still water in the morning light that justifies the effort.