Werneth Park

The moorland around Werneth Low rises sharply from the mill town of Greenfield, offering proper views across the Pennines if you catch it on a clear day. This isn't a manicured park with flowerbeds and benches - it's open moorland with a network of walking routes that range from gentle slopes to genuinely steep climbs depending on which path you fancy.

What draws people here are the views and the sense of open space. On a weekday you might have the place to yourself, which is increasingly rare this close to built-up areas. Families with older kids will find the scramble up to the summit worthwhile, though younger children might struggle with the steeper sections. For walkers, it works as either a short burst of exercise (30 minutes up and back) or a proper half-day ramble if you link it with nearby routes across the moor.

The reserve itself is undeveloped - no visitor centre, no café, no facilities to speak of. That's rather the point. You'll need sturdy boots if it's been wet, as the paths get boggy. Spring brings bilberry flowers; autumn walkers enjoy the changing light across the moorland grass.

If you're staying at Dovestone Holiday Park just down the road, Werneth Low makes an excellent morning walk without needing to drive anywhere. The industrial heritage of Greenfield sits below, a reminder of Lancashire's past, but up here it feels properly remote.