Highfield Grange Holiday Park

Clacton sits on the Tendring peninsula, a half-hour drive from the historic city of Colchester (the oldest recorded town in Britain, don’t you know), which has a castle, a contemporary art gallery and an excellent zoo along with a whole pile of handsome historic houses in its centre. Just outside town, the pretty Beth Chatto Gardens make a popular stop for green-fingered types. This area of Essex is full of pretty villages and lovely countryside that’s great for walking and cycling: the Painter’s Trail through Dedham Vale, perhaps better known as Constable Country, is one of several cycling routes in the region. Bring binoculars along if you're heading out on the wildlife trail from Walton-on-the-Naze (20 minutes' drive) – seals, sea birds and porpoises can often be spotted as you stroll (along with lizards along the trail and fossils on the beach). Need to cool off after such endeavours? Swing back to site via the lido in Brightlingsea (20 minutes) or hit the waters of Curve Wake Park (10 minutes) for paddleboarding, wakeboarding and an inflatable obstacle course that's liable to lead to fits of giggles.