Moses Gate Country Park

A sprawl of green along the River Irwell between Bury and Bolton - Moses Gate Country Park is proper canalside walking territory done right. The focal point is the old weir and lock, where the water drops noticeably and the whole landscape settles into something genuinely peaceful. You get about three miles of towpath here, with the river on one side and fields opening up on the other.

It's walkers' country, no question. The paths are flat, well-maintained, and you can dawdle as much as you like without feeling pressured. Families with young kids manage it easily - we saw pushchairs going the distance without complaint. Birdwatchers do well out of it too; the water attracts mallards, tufted ducks, the occasional heron if you're patient enough.

The park itself is free and open whenever you fancy it. Allow ninety minutes minimum if you're doing the full loop, though plenty of people just walk out to the weir and back in under an hour. Early morning is vastly better than afternoon when the towpath gets busier with cyclists heading towards Bolton.

If you're staying at Burrs Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, Moses Gate is barely five miles away - a cracking afternoon outing that breaks up park time without eating a whole day. It's not dramatic or showy, but it's exactly what a local country park should be: accessible, free, and good enough to visit twice during a week's holiday.