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akeboarding, windsurfing, kayaking or sailing... whatever floats your proverbial boat, you'll find it at the Cotswold Water Park, near Cirencester.

In all, there's a whopping 150 freshwater lakes spread across 40 square miles of countryside, so you can pretty much choose the lake to match your mood.

If you fancy a go at wakeboarding, for example, then head to WM Ski on Lake 11, where there's a rather nifty cable tow set up; this is basically the same as a drag lift on a ski slope, where you hold on to a cable that pulls you round the outside of the lake.

Unlike the traditional 'boat tow' (head to the Watermark Club on Spring Lake for that), a cable tow gives you the most time on the water for your money – about £15 for an hour; £25 for two hours.

However, you don't need to get wet to get a kick out of the Cotswold lakes. These man-made, former gravel pits have become protected havens for wildlife like Daubenton bats, nightingales, dragonflies and other species.

Book into one of the smart self-catering houses surrounding Isis Lake and you could make a weekend of it – with guided wildlife walks and a spot of sailing, followed by a sunset barbecue on your own private deck overlooking the water. Bliss.