That's it - Christmas is over for another year. The fridge, which had been bursting at the seams, now only holds the last leg of turkey and one lonely piece of Christmas pudding, the drinks cabinet is empty and the presents have been put away.

In just two days we are likely to have consumed more calories than we would normally accrue in a week, so perhaps now would be a good time for a gentle stroll to work off some of the season's excesses.

Yorkshire folk are pretty privileged with the extensive parks and countryside the county has to offer, where you can enjoy the fresh air and work up an appetite to finish of that last bit of turkey and plum pudding.

Just a hop, skip and a jump from the city centre is splendid Lister Park. Opened to the public in 1870, it is one of the region's most popular recreational green spaces, attracting more than a million visitors a year.

Thanks to a £5 million refurbishment, the magnificent boating lake has been restored to its former glory. Extensive landscaping has occurred and public facilities throughout the park vastly improved.

Set in the heart of Lister Park is Cartwright Hall, Bradford's civic art gallery, which offers an exciting programme of contemporary exhibitions, with four permanent galleries displaying works.

No visit to Lister Park would be complete without marvelling at the Mughal Water Gardens which combine terraces and paths, grassed areas and avenues of trees divided by water channels, cascades and pools in a traditional rectangular design.

There's a harmonious and restful atmosphere here that could be just what you need after a hectic festive season. The St Ives Estate in Bingley is a country park with play area, lake, woodland walk and sculpture trail.

The estate of St Ives, which was gifted to Bingley and its people by the Ferrand family in the 1920s, has a wealth of beautiful and interesting features including Druids' Altar, Baxter's Pond, Betty's and St Ives Lodges and the Old Manor House.

There are a number of circular woodland walks around the estate offering rural tranquillity and an abundant variety of flora and fauna.

Turn into the sweeping driveway of East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley, and you're a world away from the urban sprawl of pre-war semis surrounding this historic manor house.

Once the heart of Riddlesden's agricultural estate, today the hall and its tranquil grounds form a haven of green. Walking towards the house takes you past the lake, home to a lively gathering of ducks - so don't forget to take some crusts.

The house itself isn't open over the new year period, but you can still enjoy a stroll around the walled formal garden with its lovely views of the Aire valley, and the wild garden with its blend of tall grasses.

There are no set opening times, so it is best to give them a call on (01535) 607075 before setting off.

Shibden Hall, Halifax, is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and noon to 4pm on Sunday. For more than 300 years the hall was the home of the Lister family, but the house itself is even older, first built about 1420.

Many generations of people and their families have lived and worked here, and all have left their mark on its history with rooms and displays set out as if someone has just slipped out for a moment, and may return just after you have moved on.

There's also a cluster of stone buildings in a pretty courtyard which reflect centuries-old crafts, and a splendid park which is best seen from the miniature railway running around the lake.

You can meet Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother here on January 5, when you can explore the hall as you help Cinderella with her chores and discover the old toys that she used to play with.

Find the rats, mice and pumpkin with the fairy godmother before creating your own magic wand and casting a spell to send Cinderella to the ball.

Suitable for children aged three to six. Adults £4, children £3 (includes admission to the Hall). Booking essential on (01422) 392756.

It isn't obligatory to pop into Bettys Café when you go to Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate. However, there's no doubt that it's a pleasure when you visit the Royal Horticultural Society's most northerly outpost to sit by the window with a pot of tea and look out on the visitors strolling around the cared-for landscape.

You may think there won't be much to look at at this time of year, but you would be wrong. Winter and early spring bulbs such as snowdrops and early crocuses will be pushing through and carpeting the garden right through January and February.

With the beautifully delicate flowers of hellebores, fragrant winter flowering shrubs along with interesting bark and stem colour, there's lots to enjoy.

Roundhay Park, a former hunting area on the outskirts of Leeds, is the perfect place to relax and unwind. The park is 700 acres of greenery and stunning scenery with rough, good quality footpaths around the lake and formal gardens.

There is also the scented gardens for the blind, the national plant collections and the Monet and Alhambra gardens.

Ogden Water, near Denholme, offers excellent opportunities to escape from the stresses and strains of Christmas, and many of the woodland and reservoir footpaths are suitable for disabled access.

Designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2003, the estate comprises a 34-acre reservoir enclosed by woodland with open moor beyond.

The heather uplands and peat moors form part of a Special Protection Area that is of international importance for breeding birds.

More than 250,000 people visit Ogden Water every year for walking, picnics, family outings and nature activities. There are numerous woodland trails and waterside paths to explore, with stunning views extending across Calderdale.