Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape

The limestone pavements and woodland here are genuinely something. Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape stretches across that stretch of Lancashire coast between Carnforth and Morecambe Bay, and it's the kind of place where you'll round a corner and think, 'I didn't expect that to be here.' Craggy outcrops, hidden valleys, proper old-growth woodland - the landscape feels more rugged than you'd anticipate from a postcode so close to the flat sands of the bay.

Walkers get the best of it. The footpaths here are excellent, ranging from gentle riverside ambles to lung-busting climbs up to proper views across Morecambe Bay and the Pennines beyond. If you've got teenagers who need convincing that walking isn't boring, the karst terrain with its sinkholes and limestone features usually does the trick. Families with younger kids should stick to the lower routes - the terrain can be steep and uneven in places.

You can spend anything from two hours to a full day here depending on your pace and how much scrambling appeals to you. There's no entrance fee, and the whole area rewards exploration rather than rushing. Spring and early autumn are best - winter gets mucky, summer can feel a bit squeezed with visitors.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Meathop Fell or Holgates are closest - this is your local playground. It's the sort of place that fills the gap between a seaside day trip and a proper fell walk, without committing to either.