Will Pool

There's a proper waterfall hiding just outside Carlisle that most people miss entirely, tucked away in the Cumbrian countryside where the River Caldew does the heavy lifting. Will Pool is essentially a natural basin beneath a cascade - the kind of spot where you can see why Victorians were obsessed with waterfalls and wild swimming. The water is cold enough to make you yelp, clear enough to see the stones beneath, and the falls themselves drop with enough force to kick up a decent spray on damp days.

It's worth a walk if you're based at High Hall Farm Campsite or Drybeck Farm - both within easy reach - and it's one of those places that works well for families who don't mind a bit of scrambling. Kids aged six and up will get the thrill of it; younger ones might find the access path a touch fiddly. The pool itself is deeper than it looks, so supervise carefully if anyone's planning a dip. Allow a leisurely hour there and back, more if you're the type to sit around and read.

Go in spring or early summer when the water level's decent and the walk isn't too muddy underfoot. Autumn's lovely too, if you don't mind the chill. It's free, obviously - it's a waterfall - and there's no formal entrance to fuss with. The walk beats staring at another museum, and on a clear day the Pennine views from the approach path make the trip worthwhile regardless.