Wakefield

Three lakes within spitting distance tell you everything about this corner of West Yorkshire. Wakefield might be known for its rhubarb and rugby league, but step just outside the city centre and you'll find proper countryside that feels miles from the M1 corridor. Newmillerdam stretches through woodland that's perfect for dog walks, while Pugneys offers watersports and a decent cafe. Horbury Lagoon is quieter - better for wildlife watching.

The area around WF4 has more going on than you'd expect. Morton Collins Brewing Co turns out cracking ales in what used to be industrial heartland, and Woolley Edge gives you views across the Pennines on clear days. Wakefield Football Centre hosts everything from kids' parties to corporate events, though the real action happens at Belle Vue where Trinity play.

History buffs will appreciate the Henry Daley Memorial Garden and the remnants of Denby Grange Mine - reminders of the area's coal mining past. The Woodyard has reinvented itself as a community space with regular markets and events.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The M1 runs right past, Junction 38 puts you in the thick of it. Leeds is twenty minutes north, Sheffield half an hour south. Regular trains stop at Sandal and Agbrigg if you're coming by rail.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to nip into Wakefield for supplies or a proper meal, but far enough out to enjoy the countryside. Nostell Priory Holiday Park puts you near the historic house and parkland, while the various farm sites around Mapplewell and High Lea give you that proper rural feel without the isolation.