Riverside Park Hartford

The Great Ouse winds through this stretch of Cambridgeshire like it's got nowhere particular to be, and Riverside Park Hartford is where you actually want to be if you're after a proper walk without the crowds. It's a nature reserve that takes the river seriously - reed beds, meadows, the occasional kingfisher if you're quiet about it. The footpaths are straightforward, well-maintained, and the whole thing feels genuinely wild despite being just east of Huntingdon.

This is for walkers first and foremost. Families with young kids will manage fine for an hour or so, but if you're hoping for a playground or a visitor centre with facilities, you'll be disappointed. Birdwatchers get genuinely excited about this place - the mix of wetland and grassland draws in more species than you'd expect from a single reserve. The best time to visit is spring and early autumn when migration picks up.

You can easily combine it with the caravan parks nearby if you're basing yourself around Huntingdon. Huntingdon Boathaven is barely half a mile away, so it's a natural morning or evening walk from any of the local sites. Grafham Water, six miles north, is altogether busier and more managed - Riverside Park feels like the quieter alternative, which suits some people perfectly and leaves others cold.

Admission appears to be free, and there's no obvious fee structure. Allow at least ninety minutes to actually experience it rather than just trudge through. Go early if you want any chance of spotting wildlife.