Beckets Park

A proper slice of Northamptonshire wetland, Beckets Park sits just outside Northampton and does exactly what a nature reserve should do - lets you wander quietly and actually spot things. The reserve wraps around former gravel pits that have been left to their own devices, creating pools, reed beds, and scrubland that attract everything from dragonflies to visiting warblers depending on the season.

It's best suited to anyone with binoculars and patience. Serious birdwatchers will have the most fun here, though families with older kids who aren't after constant entertainment will find the walking peaceful enough. There are viewing platforms dotted about, so you don't need to be particularly athletic - just waterproof shoes and an early start if you want to catch things moving.

Free to access, and you can spend anywhere from 45 minutes to half a day depending on how many birds you're trying to identify. Spring and autumn are peak times for migration, so you'll see more activity then. Summer's quieter but pleasant if the weather holds.

Stay at Billing Aquadrome or one of the other holiday parks within a few miles - Riverview Park and Blisworth Park are close enough for a morning visit without faffing about with a long drive. It's the sort of place that rewards a return trip as the seasons change, rather than a one-off tick. Not Instagram-friendly, but genuinely worthwhile if you care about what you're looking at.