West Bank Park

A strip of meadow and woodland running alongside the River Ouse just north of York, West Bank Park is the sort of place locals know well but visitors often miss entirely. It's not dramatic or particularly vast - you can walk its length in under an hour - but it's proper pleasant if you want to stretch your legs without leaving the city behind.

The park follows the riverbank through a mix of grassland and trees, with decent views across the water and the occasional bench if you fancy a sit-down. Birdwatchers get a genuine kick out of it; the riverside habitat pulls in kingfishers, herons, and a solid variety of warblers depending on the season. The walking is easy going - mostly flat paths, nothing to challenge even the least fit members of the family.

It works well as a quick morning outing if you're staying at Nurseries Caravan Park just down the road in York, or as a wind-down after exploring the city's shops and walls. Don't expect manicured gardens or visitor facilities - there's no café, no loos that I could find, and it's free because it's simply a working bit of natural landscape. Kids will get a solid hour of exploring in before boredom sets in, and serious walkers might use it as a warm-up before heading elsewhere.

Go when it's been dry - muddy paths and riverside walking don't always mix well. Autumn and spring are when the birdlife's most active, though honestly any season beats a rainy afternoon indoors.