Tom's Lake

Tom's Lake sits just outside Southampton, a modest stretch of water that punches above its weight if you know what you're after. It's the sort of place locals have long known about while visitors drive straight past on the A35, which is their loss.

The lake itself is tranquil rather than dramatic - a couple of kilometres around, lined with trees that reflect nicely on calm days. You can walk the perimeter easily enough, and there's decent birdwatching if you bring binoculars. Families with young kids will get a solid hour out of it, maybe more if you pack a picnic and settle on the bank. The water's cold, so swimming isn't really on unless you're mad keen, but anglers regularly work the shallower edges.

What makes it worth a diversion during a caravan holiday in the area - and there are several parks within a few miles, including Dibles Park and Solent Breezes - is that it gives you a proper outdoor break without the crowds. No facilities to speak of from what I could find, so bring what you need. It's free to visit and open to the public year-round.

Winter's best if you want solitude and decent light for photography. Summer gets busier with local dog walkers. Allow two hours maximum if you're doing the full circuit; thirty minutes if you just want a quick leg-stretch from the caravan. Nothing fancy, but it does the job.