Carlton & Oulton Marshes

The marshes east of Lowestoft are proper birder territory, and Carlton & Oulton Marshes deliver exactly what you'd expect from a Suffolk wetland reserve. This is open water, reedbeds, and mudflats - the kind of landscape that looks flat and featureless until you actually spend time watching it come alive. Waders, wildfowl, and the odd rare vagrant turn up depending on the season; spring and autumn migrations are particularly good.

You'll want binoculars and patience. There are viewing platforms and walks around the site, though it's not a destination for people wanting manicured paths or facilities. This is working wetland, not a country park. Families with young kids might find it dull after half an hour - there's no playground, no cafe, no visitor centre. But if you're genuinely into birds or just fancy a quiet walk where you might spot something interesting, it's well worth the trip from Lowestoft itself.

Access and timing are straightforward: get there early morning for the best light and bird activity. Most of the nearby holiday parks - Pakefield, Hidden Meadows, and Azure Seas are all within a few miles - sit between the marshes and Lowestoft's seafront, so you could easily combine a morning here with beach time later. It costs nothing and takes as long as you want it to. Bring decent waterproofs; the ground gets boggy.