View of Tewkesbury weir

The weir at Tewkesbury is one of those spots that rewards a proper wander through town. You'll find yourself down by the river, watching the water tumble over the structure with a genuine sense of purpose - it's doing something, not just sitting there looking decorative. The power of it is quite something when the Severn's running high after rain.

It's a straightforward walk from the town centre, and the view itself takes about ten minutes to take in properly. History types will appreciate that this weir has been here since medieval times, though it's been rebuilt and modified countless occasions since then. The real charm is the immediate riverside setting - there's a proper sense of place here, banks you can walk along, and if you time it right you might spot kingfishers or cormorants having a go at the fish.

Families with young kids might find it decent for twenty minutes or so, but they won't linger unless they're genuinely into water and wildlife. Walkers, though - this is bread and butter for you. It's a natural stopping point on longer rambles along the Severn, and the walk here from Tewkesbury itself is pleasant enough through town.

If you're based at Croft Farm Water Park or Dawleys Caravan Park, both within a couple of miles, the weir makes for an easy morning or evening stroll. Admission is free - it's a public right of way - and there's no specific opening hours to worry about. Go when the light's decent rather than on a drizzly afternoon.