Former Swifts Golf Course

The old Swifts Golf Course near Carlisle has had a proper second life as a nature reserve, and it's the sort of place that sneaks up on you. What was once fairways and greens is now a patchwork of woodland, grassland and wetland - genuinely brilliant if you're after a quiet walk without the crowds you'd get at proper tourist spots.

You'll find yourself on decent paths through mature trees with occasional clearings where you can actually see what's about. The wetland bits attract waders and waterfowl, so bring binoculars if you're into that. It's not dramatic landscape - no fell views or anything - but there's a real sense of nature doing its own thing after years of manicured turf. The whole site feels less managed than you'd expect, which is rather the point.

This works best for walkers who appreciate understated countryside and anyone with a genuine interest in birds or bog plants. If your kids need thrills and proper attractions, they'll be bored within half an hour. But for a two-hour amble alongside other nature enthusiasts? Brilliant. It's free, thankfully, and you can do it in your own time.

Stay at Green Acres Caravan Park just down the road - top-rated and handily close - and use this as part of a wider Carlisle area walk. Don't come expecting manicured gardens or facilities. Come expecting solitude and actual wildlife.