Bawdeswell Heath

Rolling heathland between Bylaugh and the wider Norfolk countryside - this is proper open space where you can actually breathe. Bawdeswell Heath spreads out with that distinctive East Anglian quality: low horizon, big sky, scrubby vegetation that looks tougher than it is. There's no visitor centre or café, no facilities really, so come prepared.

What you're looking at is genuine heathland habitat, the kind that covered Norfolk before farming took over. It's free to wander, and the paths are straightforward enough for families with decent walking boots. You won't need more than an hour or two unless you're doing a longer circuit, but on a clear day the views sweep right across the landscape. Birdwatchers and people interested in conservation will find it worthwhile - it's the sort of place where you might spot linnets or spot harriers if you're lucky and patient.

Best visited between late spring and autumn when you're not trudging through mud. Winter brings a bleakness that's either atmospheric or depressing depending on your mood.

If you're based at Bylaugh Country Park Caravan and Campsite (just 0.4 miles away), this makes an easy morning's exploration before settling back for lunch. It pairs well with walking the wider Norfolk routes rather than being a destination in itself. Ashcroft Glamping, five miles down the road, offers another comfortable base for exploring this quieter corner of Norfolk. The heath won't astound you, but it's genuine countryside - no shortcuts, no Instagram moments, just open land doing what it does.