Marple Locks

The canal locks at Marple are a proper working waterway, not a manicured visitor attraction - and that's exactly why they're worth an hour of your time. Ten locks in quick succession drop the Peak Forest Canal down towards the Goyt Valley, and you can stand right at the water's edge watching narrowboats squeeze through, locks filling and draining, people actually getting somewhere by boat. It's absorbing stuff if you're into that sort of thing, less thrilling if you're expecting theme park vibrancy.

The walk itself is the real draw. The towpath either side of the locks is flat and easy, threading through proper Cheshire countryside just south of Macclesfield. You get proper industrial heritage - the locks are Victorian engineering doing an actual job - without any of the tourist tat. Bring binoculars if you're a birdwatcher; the valley's good for it. Walkers will find it pairs well with longer routes along the canal or up into the edges of the Peak District nearby.

Admission is free, and you can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours depending on whether you're just popping down to watch a boat transit or doing a longer canal walk. Best visited midweek in summer when the locks are busier and there's more to watch. If you're staying at Eastwood End Caravan Park - just five miles away near Macclesfield - this is an easy afternoon sortie that doesn't require a car. Families with primary-age kids might get bored after an hour unless someone's genuinely interested in how locks work.