Ulverston Canal

The Ulverston Canal is a proper bit of industrial heritage that doesn't shout about itself. This two-mile waterway, built in 1796, cuts through Cumbria with the kind of quiet dignity you don't find in many tourist spots. The canal itself is the real draw - walking the towpath is straightforward and lovely, with views across the Lancashire Plain stretching out if the weather's on your side.

What makes it worthwhile is the gallery space housed in the old canal buildings. Local artists use the space to exhibit, so you'll find changing shows of contemporary work alongside occasional displays about the canal's own history. It's small-scale, intimate stuff - nothing flashy, but genuinely worth an hour if you're into art or industrial heritage. Free to look around, which helps.

Families with older kids get the most from it. Younger ones might get restless after circling the gallery twice, but a longer walk along the towpath works better for keeping them occupied. The path is flat and manageable, which is always a bonus when you're herding small people.

Grange-over-Sands is just a few miles south, and if you're staying at any of the nearby parks - Haven Lakeland Leisure Park is closest - this fits neatly into a morning's exploring. Pair it with the estuary walks or a wander around Grange itself. The canal's best visited on a weekday when it's quieter and you can actually hear yourself think. Summer's obvious, but spring works too when the towpath's freshening up.