The Lake

Water that stretches far enough to make you forget you're in Essex - that's what The Lake near Benfleet delivers. It's a proper body of water rather than one of those municipal ponds, the kind where you actually get a sense of scale and space. You can walk the perimeter if you're feeling keen, sit by the edge with a coffee, or bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching. The banks vary - some stretches are wooded and intimate, others open out to views across the water that genuinely surprise you for being this close to urban areas.

It works best for walkers after a rain, when the light catches the water properly. Families with young kids might get 45 minutes here before they're ready to move on, though older children who actually enjoy being outdoors will happily potter about for longer. The access is straightforward and it's free, which means you can come back as many times as you like without guilt.

If you're camping at Essex Glamping or Riverside Village Holiday Park, The Lake makes a decent half-hour detour without eating into your day. It's particularly worth visiting in autumn when the reflections are sharp and the banks quieter. Colchester Country Park is close enough that you could do both in an afternoon - though I'd skip it if you've already got water time planned elsewhere. Go early morning if you want solitude; weekend afternoons pull the local dog-walking crowd.