Leeds and Liverpool Canal

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal stretches 127 miles across the Pennines, and the stretch near Skelmersdale is genuinely one of the best bits to explore on foot or by bike. This isn't some manicured theme park attraction - it's a proper working waterway where you'll see narrowboats puttering past and locals walking their dogs, which somehow makes it feel more authentic than somewhere more famous.

The towpath is flat and easy, perfect if you've got young kids or just can't face a proper hike. You get countryside without the hard graft, and the water reflects the sky in a way that makes even grey Lancashire days look decent in photographs. The engineering is worth noting too - 91 locks along the entire canal, though you'll see several impressive ones near here that still show off Victorian ingenuity.

Access is free and you can walk as much or as little as you fancy. An hour each way gives you a solid outing; a full day if you're really into canal history. Spring's lovely when the towpath edges green up, but autumn's quieter if solitude appeals.

Stay at The Secret Garden Glamping just down the road - it's only 5.9 miles away - and you've got a proper base for exploring both the canal and the wider Lancashire countryside. Southport Caravan and Motorhome Club is slightly further but also solid. The canal works well alongside park holidays because it's low-pressure, low-cost, and gives everyone a break from sitting in one spot.