Just across the River Mersey from Liverpool, Port Sunlight River Park proves an ugly industrial past can get a genuinely happy ending. This 70-acre green space on the Wirral Peninsula sits on the site of a landfill that took waste from 1991 until 2006 — and before that, the long-closed Bromborough Dock occupied the spot. Today it's a wetland park with riverside paths, wildflower meadows and postcard views of the Liverpool skyline across the water.

The transformation came courtesy of the Land Trust, a UK charity that manages public green spaces. The park opened in 2014 after a restoration that included planting 12,000 trees. It earned the trust's "Most Improved Space of the Year" award in 2015, and it's easy to see why: what was once a fenced-off waste heap blocking access to the waterfront is now a free public park where swans, butterflies and reed warblers thrive, according to the RSPB's Chester chapter.

There's roughly 2.6 miles of paths here, shared by walkers and cyclists, threading through different habitats and skirting the riverbank. The climb to the summit — the old landfill's mound, in effect — is the highlight, rewarding you with sweeping views over the Mersey, Liverpool and the surrounding Merseyside landscape. Benches along the way make it an easy, unhurried outing.

For practicalities, the Heritage Centre (also called the River Park Visitor Centre) has a cafe serving hot drinks and snacks on weekdays, plus restrooms. The park opens daily from dawn to dusk, parking is free, and dogs are welcome — though reviewers note you should watch your step, as not all owners clean up.

The park pairs naturally with a Liverpool trip. Port Sunlight train station is about a 15-minute walk away, with Merseyrail services linking the area to both Liverpool and Chester, so you can do a city break and still get a proper hit of nature without a car. It's also right next to the historic model village of Port Sunlight, built by soap-maker Lever Brothers, which makes a good add-on if you're in the area for the day.

If you're exploring the Wirral anyway — the peninsula has beaches, sea views and a solid food scene — this is one of the more surprising stops: a park that costs nothing, welcomes dogs, and comes with one of the better free views of Liverpool you'll find on that side of the river. And if you fancy more greenery once you've crossed into the city, Sefton Park with its artificial lake makes a natural counterpart.