Cotswold Water Park Hire

The Cotswold Water Park sits just outside Cirencester and is basically 150 lakes spread across 40 square miles - which sounds enormous until you realise most of them are hidden behind trees and accessible only by boat. You can hire everything from a small motorboat to a narrowboat here, and if you've never piloted one before, they'll talk you through it. The real appeal is the peace of it all. You're pottering along quiet waterways, spotting kingfishers and the occasional heron, with barely another soul in sight.

It's proper good for couples wanting a slower pace or families who fancy a water-based adventure without the hassle of towing a boat yourself. A day's hire runs you into decent money, but you're essentially renting your own stretch of the Cotswolds. Allow at least half a day, though most people stretch it to a full day and pack a picnic. Summer weekends get busy - early mornings or weekdays feel less crowded.

If you're staying at Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park just 1.4 miles away, this is an obvious add-on. The water park is also walkable from Cirencester itself, so you're not entirely dependent on having a car. Fair warning though: if the weather turns wet, you'll be cold and miserable out on the water. Pick a decent day for this one. It's not for everyone - some find pottering around lakes a bit slow - but if you like your holidays quiet and self-directed, it hits the spot.