Victoria Park

Victoria Park sits on the edge of Newbury and genuinely rewards a morning wander. It's a proper nature reserve - the kind where you might actually spot something interesting rather than just walk round a mown field. The park covers enough ground that you won't feel rushed, with good paths threading through mixed woodland and open grassland where wildflowers do their thing in summer.

Birders will have the best time here. The reserve attracts a decent variety of birds throughout the year, and if you're into that sort of thing, it's worth bringing binoculars and a field guide. Families with younger kids get a solid hour or two out of it - long enough to tire them out without the commitment of a full-day walk. The paths are accessible enough that you don't need serious hiking boots, though proper shoes are sensible after rain.

It's free to access and there's no gate or visitor centre to faff about with, which is refreshing. Go early or mid-week to avoid crowds, particularly if you're serious about spotting wildlife. The park works brilliantly as a break between your caravan base and wherever you're heading next - you're barely fifteen minutes from Cherry Bird Country Park or the Caravan Club site at Rhodeside if you're staying locally.

Honestly? It's not spectacular in the way some nature reserves are, but it's unfussy and proper peaceful. That's worth something.