Churchill Gardens

The River Avon winds through Churchill Gardens on the southern edge of Salisbury, and this is where locals come when they want to escape the market town without driving far. It's a nature reserve, so expect water meadows, riverside paths, and the kind of quiet that makes you remember why you bothered with a camping holiday in the first place.

Walkers will get the most from it - there's proper scope for an hour or two along the river, and birdwatchers should bring binoculars. The paths aren't strenuous, but they're muddy enough that you'll want decent boots, especially after rain. On a decent day you'll spot kingfishers and herons; the dragonflies in summer are a bonus. It's free, which is always welcome, and you can nose around for as long as you fancy.

Kids will manage an hour, maybe ninety minutes if they're into pond dipping or spotting wildlife. After that they'll want feeding or entertaining elsewhere. Families camping at Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site, just 1.7 miles away, can easily pop over for an afternoon walk without the faffing about of a proper day trip.

The reserve connects well with other spots around Salisbury - Stonehenge is thirty minutes away, and the water meadows here feel like the proper English countryside in miniature. It's not dramatic or showy, but that's rather the point. Worth the walk from town if you're based at Summerlands or Bake Farm. Go early morning for the best bird activity and fewest people.