Abbey Green

Just outside Chester, Abbey Green is a proper working nature reserve that doesn't pretend to be anything flashy - and that's exactly why it works. You're looking at wetland habitats and meadowland that actually matter for wildlife, not just a manicured walk with a gift shop at the end.

The reserve attracts serious birdwatchers and casual walkers in equal measure. Bring binoculars if you've got them. Spring and autumn are cracking for migration, when you'll spot warblers and other migrant species picking their way through. Summer's decent too, though the insect life steals the show - dragonflies everywhere if the light's right.

It's the kind of place where you walk at your own pace. No entrance fee, no set route you're forced to plod around, no time pressure. You could spend forty minutes or two hours depending on what you fancy. The walking's easy enough that families won't complain, though young children do get antsy without something specific to spot - make it a game of how many different birds they can identify.

If you're staying at Netherwood Touring Site just 2.8 miles away, Abbey Green fits perfectly into a Chester break. It's a proper counterbalance to pottering around the medieval city centre. Not the most dramatic nature reserve you'll visit, but honest and rewarding in a quiet way. Worth the short trip from your caravan.