Selby Park

The walk through Selby Park takes you along the River Ouse, and it's the kind of place that grows on you rather than hits you immediately. There's no grand entrance or visitor centre - you just turn up, find a spot to park near Goole, and wander in among the trees and wetland. The reserve proper stretches across a decent chunk of land, mix of woodland and water meadows, which means the light changes completely depending on where you walk.

Birdwatchers get the most from it, honestly. Winter brings wigeon and pintail; summer's better for warblers and the odd kingfisher if you're lucky and patient. But it's not a trudge - the paths are easy enough, mostly flat, and the Ouse views are proper lovely when the water catches the afternoon sun. Give it two hours if you're a casual ambler, maybe half a day if you've got binoculars and time to kill.

It works well as part of a park holiday in the area. Cawood Park and York South Ltd are both within five miles, which means you're close enough to base yourself there and venture out. Apple Blossom too, just as far. The reserve pairs nicely with the slower pace those holiday lodges offer - it's not a destination that demands your full day, but it's a decent way to spend a morning without driving hours.