Brickyard Lake

Brickyard Lake sits on the eastern edge of King's Lynn, a proper working landscape where industrial heritage meets water and wildlife. This isn't a manicured tourist spot - it's a genuine brick-making area that's evolved into something quieter, with water that reflects the Norfolk sky and attracts serious birdwatchers and the odd angler who knows what they're after.

You're looking at a body of water formed from old clay extraction pits, the kind of place that tells you something true about how this corner of England was built. The walking is straightforward rather than dramatic, and the appeal is in the watching - geese, cormorants, the slow turn of seasons across flat water. It's not a destination that demands hours, but an hour of quiet observation rewards properly.

Families with young children might find it a bit thin on activities; walkers and nature types will find exactly what they came for. There's no entrance fee and no faffing about with opening times - it's the sort of place you turn up to when you feel like it.

If you're camping at Kings Lynn Caravan & Camping Park or Norfolk Woods Resort nearby, Brickyard Lake makes an easy morning or late afternoon visit without needing to pile the family in the car. It works best in spring and autumn when bird movement picks up, but even in summer it's a refreshing break from the holiday park routine. Honest and unpretentious.