Dean Bank Park

Walk along the riverside at Dean Bank and you'll understand why Durham's nature reserve sits so quietly at the edge of things. It's proper woodland and water rather than manicured gardens - the kind of place where you actually see birds instead of just reading about them on a plaque.

The reserve follows the River Wear, so you get decent walking paths without the tourist trail feel of the city centre a few miles away. Woodland birds are the draw here, particularly in spring and early summer. If you're into twitching, bring binoculars. If you just fancy a riverside walk that doesn't involve ice cream vans and gift shops, this delivers.

It won't keep you for hours - most people do it as a 45-minute circuit, maybe longer if you stop to sit on the benches and actually watch things. Families with young walkers will manage fine on the main paths, though it's not pram-friendly in places. The ground gets soft after rain, so proper shoes matter.

For a longer stay in the area, the caravan parks dotted around Durham - Eden Grange Glamping and Woodside Ridge are both within cycling distance - make good bases. You could easily combine Dean Bank with a morning in Durham itself, then head back to something quieter for the afternoon.

Free access, no visitor centre nonsense. Go early if you want any chance of spotting decent wildlife. It's the sort of place you'll recommend to other walkers but never talk about in superlatives.