Granitethorpe Quarry

The water at Granitethorpe Quarry is the colour of weak tea, which sounds uninspiring until you realise it's actually rather lovely - that milky turquoise you get when a former working quarry floods naturally over decades. It's a proper swimming lake now, surrounded by steep granite walls that catch the light in unexpected ways.

This is fundamentally a spot for water people. Swimmers come here regularly, as do anglers who take the fishing seriously. The quarry walls mean there's decent shelter from wind, and on a clear day the reflections are genuinely striking. Walking the perimeter takes maybe thirty to forty minutes depending on how often you stop to photograph things.

It's free to visit and there's nothing fancy about it - no café, no facilities that we could identify, no admission charge to fret about. That's rather refreshing. You'll want proper shoes with grip because the paths around the water's edge can be muddy and uneven. Summer is obviously the peak season, though spring can be quieter and equally nice.

For a caravan holiday based at somewhere like Fortway Farm Leisure & Fishery just down the road - less than half a mile away - this works well as a morning walk or afternoon escape. Leicester itself is close enough if you need shops or restaurants. The quarry doesn't demand hours of your time, but it rewards a proper visit rather than a quick snap. Families with older kids who can manage uneven ground will find it interesting. Toddlers, less so.