Stubbylee Park

You'll find yourself on moorland that actually feels like moorland - proper Pennine grit without the twee factor. Stubbylee Park near Rossendale is a nature reserve where the paths wind through heather and grassland, with views that stretch across Lancashire when the weather plays ball. It's the sort of place where you can genuinely lose an hour and not feel like you've wasted your time, which is more than can be said for some.

The reserve works well for walkers of mixed ability - there are gentle loops if you fancy an easy stroll, but the terrain gets properly interesting if you venture further afield. Bring binoculars. The birdlife here is decent, and you might spot grouse or red kites if you're lucky and quiet. Families with older kids will get more from it than those with toddlers; the open moorland means there's nowhere to properly tire out the under-fives.

Free access, naturally, and you can potter about as long as you fancy. Spring and early summer are when it comes into its own - the heather blooms make it worth the trip alone. In winter it's bleaker, but that has its own appeal if you like that sort of thing.

It pairs nicely with a week based at one of the nearby cottages - Rossendale Holiday Cottages is just under three miles away, and Dearden Wood offers a proper woodland alternative if you want more shelter. The area rewards exploring beyond the park itself, but Stubbylee is a solid day-out anchor.