Oak Beck Park

There's a proper beck running through Oak Beck Park - clear water, good trees, the kind of place where you actually notice birdsong. It's a nature reserve just outside Knaresborough, so if you're staying at Windmill Retreats or based anywhere nearby, it's a genuinely worthwhile stretch of the legs rather than a tourist trap.

You get woodland paths along the water's edge, which is where you'll spot most of the interest. Kingfishers turn up if you're patient, and the whole setup feels properly cared for without being over-manicured. It's not vast - you can work through it in an hour or so - but that makes it ideal if you've got restless kids or you're not the type to ramble for half a day.

Go when it hasn't rained for a bit. After heavy weather the beck floods the lower paths, which is dramatic but not brilliant for walking. Spring and early summer are best for birdwatching. Admission appears to be free, which is refreshing.

For a park holiday in this corner of Yorkshire, Oak Beck works well as a morning outing. Knaresborough itself is a short drive away if you want lunch and the castle afterwards. It's not going to blow your mind, but it's the sort of spot that reminds you why you came to Yorkshire in the first place - proper green, proper quiet, proper restful.