Billy Neill MBE Country Park

About fifteen minutes south of Belfast, this 140-acre country park sits where the Lagan Valley opens out into proper countryside. You're walking through woodland and grassland with the river running alongside, and the whole thing feels genuinely removed from the city noise despite being so close.

What you actually get is a decent network of trails - nothing strenuous, mostly flat going along the riverbank or through the wooded sections. There's a visitor centre with the usual facilities, and the park's been developed with families in mind. Kids won't get bored here for a couple of hours, especially if you let them loose on the open grass or along the water's edge, though it's not the sort of place that'll keep teenagers entertained all day.

The main draw is the walking and the wildlife spotting. Bring binoculars if you're serious about birds - the Lagan Valley's good for them. Admission is free, which is the way these things should be.

If you're based at The Pods at Streamvale or Dundonald, both just over a mile away, this makes a cracking morning or afternoon stop. It's the sort of place that rounds out a park holiday nicely - proper outdoor time without needing to drive half an hour. The park's peaceful enough that you'll actually hear the river, which is rare this close to any city. Go when the weather's decent; muddy paths in winter aren't anyone's idea of fun.