Beccles Marshes

The marshes stretch out flat and endless just east of Beccles, a proper Norfolk landscape where water and sky seem to merge into one. It's the kind of place that rewards a slow walk rather than a quick visit - bring binoculars if you're serious about birdwatching, because this is genuinely good territory for spotting bitterns, marsh harriers, and bearded reedlings.

There's no visitor centre or café out here, which is actually part of the appeal. You park up near Beccles and head out on foot along the network of paths that wind through the wetlands. The walking is flat and easy, though it can be boggy after rain, so decent boots are wise. Allow a couple of hours if you want to do it properly and actually see something rather than just trudge through.

Walkers and twitchers will get the most from it. Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after half an hour unless they're genuinely into nature. The light here is extraordinary - golden in the early morning, moody and atmospheric in the late afternoon.

If you're based at The Wildings Elms Meadow or Dawn Chorus Holidays nearby, the marshes are an easy morning outing before heading elsewhere. It doesn't need to be a full day activity, but it's the kind of quiet corner that makes a proper break from busier attractions. Go early to avoid what little foot traffic there is, and accept that you might see very little - that's rather the point.