Neigh Bridge Lake

A modest body of water just outside Cirencester, Neigh Bridge Lake is one of those places that works brilliantly if you're already in the area with a caravan or tent, but probably doesn't warrant a special trip on its own. It's a small fishing lake with a decent walking loop around it - takes about forty minutes at a steady pace - and the sort of spot where you'll see the odd angler, a few dog walkers, and families chucking bread at the ducks.

The water is peaceful rather than spectacular. There's no café, no facilities to speak of, and no admission fee that we can find. What you get is fresh air, a bit of gentle countryside, and a proper break from the caravan if you're staying at Hoburne Cotswold just down the road. The walk itself is fine - flat, easy underfoot, with decent views across the water. Kids won't get bored if they're the type who like spotting wildlife, but they'll lose interest fast if they need climbing frames.

Where it earns its place is as part of a longer day out. Cirencester itself has real meat on its bones - the Roman museum is genuinely good, the town centre's worth a wander, and if you've got a few days at Hoburne or Park Farm, this lake slot in nicely as a morning or late-afternoon escape. It's the kind of place you visit because you're already there, not because you've driven an hour to see it.