Conway Park

Conway Park sits just outside Preston and delivers what you'd hope from a Lancashire nature reserve - proper woodland walks, a decent stretch of water, and enough quiet corners to actually hear yourself think. The reserve centres around a lake fringed with trees, and there's a good network of paths that take you through mixed woodland and open grassland. It's the sort of place where you might spot waterfowl if you're patient, and the walking is gentle enough for families with younger kids, though it does get muddy after rain.

You'll get the most from Conway Park if you're after a half-day escape rather than an all-day expedition. An hour and a half covers the main circuit comfortably, though you can stretch it to two hours if you dawdle or sit by the water for a bit. The reserve works well as a break from caravan life - it's close enough to Brylea Caravan Park and Smithills View Campsite for a morning outing without burning petrol. Dog walkers will appreciate the space, and it's free to access, which is always a bonus.

The woodland isn't dramatic or particularly rare, but it does the job. If you're based at one of the nearby parks and the weather turns grey, you could do worse than a circuit here. Just go in with modest expectations - this is solid local green space rather than somewhere that'll blow your mind.