Storth Pond

A small lake sitting just outside Ripon that punches above its weight for a quiet afternoon break. Storth Pond is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan around, which is rather the point - it's genuinely undeveloped and refreshingly free from the crowds that clog better-known water spots.

The water itself is calm and reflective, ringed by modest woodland that gives decent cover if the weather turns. There's no visitor centre, no café, no activities infrastructure to speak of. What you get instead is a proper place for a walk, a bit of birdwatching if you're into that, or simply sitting on the bank with a thermos. It's the sort of spot where you notice things - dragonflies, the way the light hits the water at certain times of day, how quiet it actually is.

Walkers will get the most from Storth Pond since there are several good circular routes threading through the surrounding countryside. Give yourself an hour minimum, though you could easily lose two hours here without trying. Families with small children might find it less engaging than a more structured attraction, but older kids who enjoy a gentle ramble will be fine.

It works brilliantly as a morning or late afternoon diversion during a park holiday - Sleningford Watermill and Woodhouse Farm Holiday Park are both within easy reach, making it a natural addition to a few days based around Ripon. Free to visit, naturally. Go when the light's soft: early morning or just before dusk transforms it completely.