Burgh Castle

The Roman fort that commands the horizon above the River Yare feels properly ancient once you're standing at its base. Burgh Castle, just outside Great Yarmouth, is what remains of a third-century defensive stronghold - crumbling flint walls that still tower over the marshland in a way that'll make you understand why the Romans chose this spot. You can walk right up to it, scramble about the earthworks, and get a real sense of scale from the surviving walls, which are surprisingly tall when you're actually there.

History buffs will spend a good hour picking over the site, reading the stone, trying to imagine the garrison. Kids aged ten and up tend to enjoy the climb and the views across the Norfolk wetlands, though younger ones might find it a bit of a slog. It's genuinely free to visit and open whenever - no gates, no visitor centre, just you and 1,900 years of weathered masonry.

The location is brilliant for a park-based holiday. You're barely ten minutes from Haven Wild Duck, which puts you on the doorstep of the Yare estuary and some cracking walks. Pair it with a morning at Burgh and you've got a proper half-day itinerary sorted. Haven Hopton is also close enough for a quick stop on the way to Great Yarmouth proper. The wind can be fairly bracing out there on the marshes, so pick a decent day - summer mornings are best before the afternoon heat sets in.