Thorny Park

Thorny Park sits just outside Leyburn in North Yorkshire, a modest nature reserve that punches above its weight if you're after a proper walk without the crowds. It's the sort of place where you might actually hear birdsong instead of other tourists, which feels increasingly rare these days.

The reserve offers decent woodland and open ground - good for spotting birds and butterflies if you know what you're looking for. There are a few informal paths threading through, though nothing particularly signposted or manicured. Bring decent boots: the ground gets waterlogged in winter and after rain.

Walkers will get the most out of this one. It's not a destination in itself - no visitor centre, no facilities that I could see - but it's brilliant as a half-hour diversion if you're exploring the Dales around Leyburn. The Yorkshire Dales landscape rolls right up to the edges here, so it slots nicely into a longer day out.

If you're staying at one of the holiday parks in the area like Park Leisure's Yorkshire Dales setup just up the road, Thorny Park makes for a low-key morning stroll before heading to busier attractions. Free to access, no time limit - go when it suits you, though spring and early summer are when the bird activity really picks up.

It won't take your breath away, but that's rather the point. Sometimes the best bit of a holiday is finding somewhere quiet that locals clearly prefer to keep to themselves.