Park Nook

Park Nook is a proper nature reserve just outside Clitheroe in North Yorkshire - the kind of place you'll stumble upon by accident and end up spending far longer than you planned. It's a modest patch of woodland and wetland that punches above its weight if you're into birds and quiet corners. You're looking at easy walking trails through the trees, decent birdwatching if you bring binoculars, and the occasional flash of colour from migrating species depending on the season.

This works best for anyone who finds the big honey-pot attractions exhausting. Families with young kids will get an hour or so out of it before fidgeting sets in, but serious walkers and twitchers will find it genuinely rewarding. The terrain is manageable - nothing steep, mostly gentle loops - which means you can bring a pushchair if needed.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Calder Farm is practically on your doorstep at just under a mile away, while Peaks and Pods and Cross Lane Caravan Park are within easy striking distance - Park Nook makes for a low-key morning before heading into Clitheroe proper for lunch. It's the sort of spot that breaks up a holiday nicely without demanding much planning. Go early if you want any chance of seeing wildlife rather than other visitors.