Felicity Loughrey finds a great hot-weather escape from Manhattan and Brooklyn.

In summer, New York City is dirty, sweaty and stinking hot. In fact, I have the fan on right now. But escape is possible, imminent even. Only a two-hour drive north of the city on the I-87 near the town of Gardiner is Lake Minnewaska, tucked in the Shawangunk Ridge. To enter the Minnewaska State Park Reserve forest there is a fee per car. Near the car park there’s a grassy lea with picnic tables.

Take the chance to eat lunch here as food is not allowed at the shore. This place is pristine. There are no garbage bins either so you have to take your rubbish with you. From the picnic area, it’s a short walk to the rocky edge of Lake Minnewaska.

Look out for wild blueberry bushes that are in season from mid-summer. On the shoreline there are cedar-paneled change stalls to switch to your swimmers. Sitting on high stools like tennis umpires are two New York state lifeguards tut-tutting teens jumping from the jetty into the water. Who can blame the kids?

The water is so refreshing, so beautiful. Gotham feels a world away.