Duck Pond

The water's usually still enough to see the sky reflected back at you, which is precisely why the ducks seem so content here. Duck Pond, just outside Cambridge, is a proper little nature reserve where you can actually watch wildfowl going about their business without feeling like you're intruding. It's the sort of place where twenty minutes becomes an hour because you've spotted something new - a heron, maybe, or a family of tufted ducks you didn't clock the first time round.

This is ideal for anyone who wants a gentle walk without the crowds of the city itself. The setting's low-key and accessible, which means families with young kids can manage it easily, and birdwatchers will find enough variety to keep them occupied. You're looking at a quiet spot rather than a managed visitor attraction with facilities, so come prepared - bring binoculars if you've got them, dress for the weather, and don't expect a café or toilets.

If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Fen End Farm and The Orchard are closest at under five miles away - this makes a solid morning outing before heading into Cambridge proper or pushing on to explore more of the Cambridgeshire countryside. The fens around here are genuinely special if you know where to look, and Duck Pond is refreshingly free from the overthinking that comes with bigger attractions. Go early in the day when the light's better and the birds are more active.