Fairways Park

The River Ouse cuts through Fairways Park like it owns the place - and frankly, it does. This nature reserve on the outskirts of Selby is where the locals head when they want riverside walking without the tourist crowds. The wetland habitat here draws serious bird-watchers, though you don't need binoculars to spot kingfishers darting between the reeds or herons standing dead still on the water's edge.

It's the kind of spot where an hour can slip into three without you noticing. The walking paths are straightforward enough - mostly flat, which means families with younger kids won't find themselves dragging reluctant legs around. Spring and autumn are brilliant for migration watching, but honestly, there's always something moving about in the water or the scrubland.

The reserve works well as a morning or afternoon leg of a wider park holiday in the area. You're only minutes from Cawood Park and York South Ltd if you're staying overnight, making it an easy addition to your itinerary rather than a destination in itself. Bring decent footwear though - the ground can be boggy even when it hasn't rained recently, and the whole point of coming here is getting close to the water and the wildlife, not treading a tarmac path.

Free to access with no fixed hours means you can turn up when it suits you. Nature reserves like this don't put on a show - they reward patience and a bit of quiet observation. If you're after something wilder than a municipal park but still walkable in an afternoon, this is worth the detour.