Shirley Pool

Drive out from Doncaster towards the countryside and you'll find Shirley Pool tucked away in South Yorkshire - a proper little water spot that catches people by surprise. It's the kind of place where you can actually breathe, not mobbed like the tourist hotspots.

The pool itself is small and peaceful, good for a quiet walk around the perimeter if that's your thing, though don't expect dramatic scenery or wild activity. Anglers use it regularly, so you'll spot a few fishing rods set up along the banks. The water's calm, the surroundings are gentle farmland, and it's the sort of location that works best if you're after a low-key break rather than a destination in itself.

Families with young kids might find twenty minutes quite enough before restlessness sets in. Keen walkers passing through the area could easily combine it with a longer route. If you're staying at Between Rivers Camping just down the road, it's worth a stroll to clear your head between proper outings.

There's nothing fancy here - no visitor centre, no facilities that I'm aware of, just open access to a quiet lake. Best visited when the weather's decent; mud's inevitable in winter. It won't make your holiday, but if you're based nearby and need ten minutes of calm water and fresh air, it does the job.