Swann Pool

Head to Swann Pool if you're after a proper freshwater lake in the middle of Warwickshire, just outside Atherstone. It's the sort of place locals know about but tourists often miss - which is precisely why it's worth the trip if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Nightingales Rustic Camping.

The water's clean enough for fishing, and that's genuinely the main draw here. You'll see anglers lining the banks most days, patient types with their rods and thermoses. Non-fishers can still have a walk around it - the perimeter path isn't dramatic, but it's pleasant enough on an afternoon when the light's decent. Bring binoculars if you're keen on birds. You might spot mallards, herons if you're lucky.

Problem is, there's not much else to do once you've walked it once. Kids will get bored after an hour unless they're the kind who want to skip stones and paddle. No facilities visible from the lane, no cafe, no toilet block that I could find - so plan accordingly. Best visited as a stop-off rather than a full morning activity.

If you're camping nearby at Nightingales, this makes a decent early-evening stroll when the temperature drops. Go at dusk in summer and you'll have the place nearly to yourself. Bring a jacket though - lakes have their own microclimate, and the wind can turn chilly fast.