The Mere

A proper expanse of water on Cheshire's doorstep, The Mere sits just outside Knutsford and gives you exactly what it says on the tin - a lake for walking round, a bit of fresh air, and somewhere to let your head clear. The water's the main event here. There's a decent perimeter path if you fancy stretching your legs, and the whole setup works best if you're after a straightforward ramble rather than anything too showy.

Families with younger kids will get a good hour or so out of it, maybe ninety minutes if you're the type to stop and watch the water. Adults who just want to walk somewhere flat and unremarkable will find it fits the bill. History types, though, might find it a bit thin - it's a lake, not a castle.

The beauty of The Mere is that it slots perfectly into a caravan park week in the area. You're bang between Pickmere Leisure Park, Belmont Hall Camping, and Greenfields Campsite - all within spitting distance - so if you're based at one of those, this is the obvious leg-stretcher to do without driving anywhere. It's free to access and there are no opening hours to fret about, which means you can walk it at dawn if you fancy, or when the light's going down. Bring a coat though. Cheshire lake views aren't dramatic, but they're restful, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.