Kettle Mere

Kettle Mere sits just outside Ellesmere as a proper little water body that's worth a wander if you're staying nearby. It's a glacial lake - basically a leftover from the ice age - and it draws walkers, birdwatchers, and the odd photographer who fancies catching reflections in still water. The walk around it takes about an hour, give or take, depending on how often you stop to peer at whatever waterfowl happen to be about that day.

It's the sort of place that works best if you're already in the area rather than a destination in itself. Families with young kids might find it a bit tame after twenty minutes of "are we nearly there yet" - there's not much to do except walk and look. But if you've got teenagers or proper walkers in your group, it's a gentle, undemanding outing that breaks up a caravan park week nicely. Bring binoculars and you might actually spot something interesting.

The lake is free to access, and there's usually a bit of parking nearby. Head there on a clear morning when the water's calm and you'll see why locals bother with it. If you're based at Colemere Caravan Park or Archers' Meadow Glamping, it's practically on your doorstep - you could walk there from either. On a drizzly Shropshire afternoon when you can't face driving anywhere, it'll do the job.