Bureside Holiday Park

The lake at Bureside is proper Norfolk - flat, peaceful, and the sort of place where an afternoon can slip away without you noticing. It's a working holiday park first and foremost, so don't expect wild open access; you're looking at a managed water with caravans dotted around, but that's actually part of the charm. The water itself is calm enough for a paddle if you're staying on-site, and the surrounding landscape is that gentle East Anglian thing - reeds, wide skies, the occasional heron if you're lucky.

This isn't a destination lake like Wroxham or Barton Turf further south. It works best if you're already based at Bureside or one of the nearby parks like Clippesby Hall or Hickling Campsite - both within five miles - and want somewhere quiet to sit with a coffee and watch the world not happen very much. Families with young kids will find it safe and uneventful, which is either brilliant or dull depending on your mood. The real value is as part of a Norfolk park holiday where you're after downtime rather than attractions.

Access depends entirely on whether you're a guest at the park. If you are, allow a couple of hours for a gentle walk around, though there's no dramatic scenery or walking trails to speak of. Best visited on a calm day when the water reflects properly - the light can be lovely in late afternoon. It's a solid filler activity rather than a reason to book your holiday, but that's fine. Norfolk's full of these quiet spots.