Diss garden and boardwalk

The boardwalk at Diss cuts through wetland that feels properly alive - dragonflies hawking over the water, reeds rustling, the kind of place where you actually see wildlife instead of just hoping for it. It's a mile-long loop that takes you out over the fen, and the wooden planking keeps your feet dry even when the ground either side is sodden. You're looking at open water, reed beds, and enough birdlife to keep binoculars busy. Early morning or dusk is when things get interesting - grebes, herons, warblers depending on the season.

The whole walk takes about forty minutes at a gentle pace, which suits most people. It's flat, so no huffing up hills, but it can get muddy at the edges and the wind whips across the fen without mercy - bring a windproof. The nearest town is Eye, just a few miles north, which keeps things convenient.

Walkers and bird-watchers will get the most from this. Families with younger children might find it a bit sparse after twenty minutes unless you're serious about spotting things. It's free and unmanned, so you can turn up whenever.

If you're based at Applewood Countryside Holidays or Hill Farm Suffolk nearby, this makes an easy half-day outing - close enough not to eat into your time, absorbing enough that it doesn't feel like a box-tick. Combine it with exploring Eye itself or one of the other reserves in the Waveney Valley. Good value for nothing spent.