Blue Pool

The water here is genuinely blue - that striking turquoise colour you'd expect to find somewhere Mediterranean, not a few miles outside Southam. It's an old quarry that's flooded over the years, and the mineral content in the chalk gives it that distinctive hue. On a clear day it's properly lovely, though I'll be honest: it's not vast. You can walk around it in twenty minutes if you're not stopping.

The spot works best if you're already out on a country walk in Warwickshire rather than as a standalone destination. Families with young kids might manage an hour here - there's something captivating about the colour that keeps them interested longer than you'd expect. Serious walkers treating it as a waypoint between Southam and the surrounding farmland will find it worthwhile.

I'd recommend timing a visit for late morning when the light hits the water properly and catches that blue. Midday sun can wash it out a bit. Bring a picnic if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Harbury Fields Farm Caravan Park, just up the road. It's the kind of place that rewards a bit of patience - sit for ten minutes and you'll likely see why locals bother making the trip.

Free to visit, no facilities that I could find, and best attempted in decent weather. Don't expect dramatic views or long hikes. Do expect an unusual colour and a quiet spot to pause and breathe.