Castle Marshes

Water levels change everything here. One day you're walking dry paths through reed beds, the next you're squelching through proper marshland as the River Waveney has its say. Just east of Beccles, this nature reserve feels properly wild - no manicured boardwalks or visitor centres, just Suffolk doing what it does best.

Birdwatchers will have a field day. The mix of wetland, grassland and scrub pulls in everything from bitterns to barn owls, depending on the season. Spring brings warblers chattering in the reeds, while winter sees huge flocks of wildfowl using the marsh as a motorway service station.

Expect to get your boots dirty. The paths can be muddy even in summer, and after heavy rain you'll wonder if you've taken a wrong turn into the Norfolk Broads. Kids might enjoy the first half hour spotting dragonflies and frogs, but this isn't really a family day out unless they're proper nature nuts.

Worth combining with a trip into Beccles for lunch, especially if you're staying at one of the nearby sites like Hidden Meadows or Henstead Fields. The reserve works well as a peaceful morning walk before heading to the Suffolk coast - Pakefield Holiday Park and Azure Seas are both close enough for an afternoon by the sea.