Ightenhill Park

You'll find proper moorland here, rolling open ground above Nelson that feels a world away from the mill towns below. Ightenhill Park is a nature reserve, and it's the sort of place where you can actually breathe - no crowds, no gift shops, just heather and grass and the occasional grouse if you're lucky.

It's walkers' territory, really. The paths are decent underfoot and there's enough room to lose yourself for an hour or two without feeling like you're going in circles. You get decent views across the Lancashire countryside on a clear day, and the birds - you'll see curlews and lapwings if you're quiet about it. Birdwatchers absolutely rate this place.

Families with energetic kids will find enough here to stretch their legs, though it's not the sort of spot where there's a café or a playground. You need to come prepared - proper boots if there's been rain, and honestly, go early because the car park isn't huge. Allow a good two hours minimum, more if you're the type who stops to identify every plant.

It works beautifully as part of a wider moorland walk if you're staying at any of the glamping spots nearby - Higher Grange is closest, just 4.5 miles away. Pair it with other Rossendale Valley walks and you've got a solid couple of days of fresh air sorted. Free to visit, mercifully. No phone reception up there either, which is either a bonus or a nightmare depending on your outlook.