Cool Place of the Day: Frensham Common and Ponds, Surrey

Every day, a new place to discover or explore from coolplaces.co.uk

This splendid spot is the perfect place for a picnic (Shutterstock)

It’s National Picnic Week, and if you're looking for somewhere to cool down on a hot summer day, the beach and wild swimming spot at Frensham Great Pond, just south of Farnham in Surrey, is the perfect spot.

It is the real deal for families; you can grab a bucket and spade, a hamper of sarnies, cold drinks and sunbathe on the sandy beach in between dips in the swimming area in the pond – a slice of the Med in the midst of the home counties. Leave the dog at home though.

While the Great Pond is perfect for swimming and sailing, nearby Little Pond (separate car park) is a haven for birds and other wildlife, and Frensham Common, which sprawls over 1,000 acres of National Trust-administered wilderness, is an acronym-lover’s dream – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Unsurprisingly, it's also a lovely spot to explore on foot or in the saddle, and there's a network of footpaths and bridleways, including a loop around the lakes.

There's a bit of history here too: the two lakes were apparently artificially created in the Middle Ages to keep a fresh supply of carp on the table for the notoriously hungry Bishop of Winchester.

Cool Places is a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk).