Newtown Pool

Water stretches out quiet and still between Rugeley and the countryside beyond - that's Newtown Pool, a proper working reservoir that's somehow become one of the nicer spots to kill an hour or two if you're staying nearby. It's not dramatic or showy. What you get is a good walk round the perimeter, decent bird watching if you're into that sort of thing, and the kind of flat, open views that make you remember why people bother with the Midlands at all.

The pool itself sits in farmland, so it feels removed from the industrial grit you might expect round Rugeley. Locals come to walk the dog, photographers show up for the water reflections on calm mornings, and it's genuinely popular with birdwatchers - you'll spot cormorants and grebes if you're patient. The walk is manageable for most abilities, nothing taxing, just straightforward and pleasant.

There's no entrance fee as far as anyone can tell, and you can spend anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours depending on how slowly you move and whether you actually stop to watch things. Families won't find it thrilling - there are no playgrounds or facilities - but walkers and nature types will find it worth the detour. If you're based at Pillaton Hall Farm for a week, this works as an easy morning out, especially if you catch it early before the light gets thick and yellowish later in the day. Go when the weather's clear rather than grey; it makes all the difference.