Donna Nook Grey Seal Colony

The grey seals haul out on the beach at Donna Nook like they own the place - which, frankly, they do. This stretch of Lincolnshire coast near Louth becomes a proper wildlife spectacle between October and December, when hundreds of these bulky creatures come ashore to breed and give birth. You can watch from a designated area as the adults lumber about, the pups wail for milk, and the occasional territorial scrap kicks off. The seals don't care that you're there, which is exactly the appeal.

It's free to visit and requires no booking, though you'll want to keep your distance - stay behind the rope lines and you won't end up as a viral video of someone getting charged by an angry seal. Allow a couple of hours if you're serious about it; longer if you're the type to sit and sketch or photograph. Bring binoculars and patience. The light can be grim on an October afternoon, so go when the weather's reasonable.

Families with young kids sometimes find it underwhelming outside the main pupping season - seals do lie around a lot - but teenagers and keen naturalists will be absorbed. Wildlife photographers get genuinely good shots here.

If you're staying at Lakeside Park or Sunnydale, Donna Nook makes a proper outing that breaks up the holiday park routine without eating up a whole day. It's about half an hour's drive from either site. Go in late autumn if you can; that's when the magic happens.