Wetherby Railway Path

The old railway line between Wetherby and Harrogate has been converted into a proper walking and cycling route, and it's one of those rare bits of infrastructure that actually improves the landscape rather than scars it. The path runs dead flat for about three miles each way - which sounds dull until you realise that means even small children won't be complaining about steep hills halfway through.

What you get is a nature reserve with genuine teeth to it. The embankments either side have been allowed to go wild, so you're walking through genuine woodland corridor with decent birdsong and the chance of spotting muntjac or roe deer if you're quiet. The whole thing feels removed from the world despite being between two towns - that's the magic of these old railway paths. There's water too, so dragonflies in summer.

It's free and you can access it from Wetherby or the Harrogate end. Allow a couple of hours for a full round trip if you're not rushing, less if you just fancy an hour's stroll. Spring's excellent for migrants, autumn for colour. Worth doing on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend cyclist traffic.

Stay at Rudding Holiday Park - closest to Harrogate - and you're about fifteen minutes' drive from the Wetherby entrance. It links nicely with other walks around Harrogate itself. Not dramatic or showy, but proper good value for a family that wants fresh air without the faffing about with gates and steep sections.