Brickkiln Ponds

Two shallow ponds separated by a narrow strip of land - that's Brickkiln Ponds near Emsworth, and honestly, it's more of a walker's pit stop than a destination in itself. The water's dark and still, fringed with reeds and the odd patch of woodland that gives decent cover for birdwatchers. You might spot herons, grebes, the occasional kingfisher if you're patient and quiet.

It's free to access and takes maybe twenty minutes to walk around properly, though you can stretch it longer if you sit with binoculars. The paths are straightforward - nothing steep - which makes it manageable for families with younger kids, though they might lose interest fairly quickly unless they're into spotting wildlife. The real appeal here is as part of a longer walk rather than a standalone visit.

Timing-wise, early morning or late afternoon works best for wildlife, and spring and autumn tend to be livelier than summer when everything goes a bit quiet. The ponds can look rather bleak in winter, though that's when winter migrants sometimes show up.

If you're based at Bow Hill Farm caravan site five miles west, this makes a decent morning outing to break up the journey or fill a couple of hours. It's the sort of place you'd combine with a pub lunch back in Emsworth rather than plan an entire day around. Proper for keen naturalists; bit limited for anyone else.