Billinge Green Flash

The water at Billinge Green Flash catches the light in a way that makes you understand why someone bothered naming it. This glacial lake sits just outside Knutsford and draws locals rather than tour coaches, which is refreshing. It's a proper spot for a walk round the perimeter - takes maybe forty minutes at an easy pace - with enough trees to feel like you've escaped the Cheshire flatlands even though you haven't really gone anywhere.

What you get here is straightforward: a lake, paths, and quiet. Bring binoculars if you're into birds. Bring a picnic if you're into sitting by water. Don't expect visitor facilities or a cafe - this isn't that kind of place. Families with young children might tire after the circuit, but walkers after a gentle leg-stretch will find it worthwhile. The water itself isn't the dramatic kind you'd drive miles for, but on a decent day it works as a breather between Knutsford's town centre and the surrounding parks.

If you're bunking at one of the caravan spots nearby - Lakeside Caravan Park is closest at four miles - Billinge Green Flash is handy for a morning constitutional. It fits neatly into a park-based holiday without demanding much planning. Free to visit, obviously. Just turn up and walk. Late spring and early autumn are best, when you're not fighting midges or sinking into mud.