Duck pond

The water's still on a good day, and you'll spot mallards, tufted ducks, and if you're lucky, a flash of kingfisher blue. This Norfolk nature reserve near Swaffham is the sort of place where you can spend twenty minutes or two hours depending on mood and whether the light's any good for photographs.

It's genuinely free and open to the public - no fees, no faffing about. The main draw is watching waterfowl from the bank, though the surrounding scrubland and reed beds attract warblers and the occasional heron if you keep quiet. Families with young kids do well here; the ducks keep them entertained without needing much explaining, and there's room to run about without causing chaos.

Walkers will find it a pleasant interlude rather than a destination in itself - you're looking at half an hour to cover the main viewing areas. Serious birdwatchers come during spring migration and autumn when passage birds turn up, though you'll need binoculars and patience in equal measure.

Stay at Breckland Meadows Caravan Park just down the road and you've got a decent base for exploring the Breckland area. Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa, further out, is better if you want more facilities, but the duck pond itself is close enough to either for an easy morning visit. Best at dawn or dusk when the light's proper and the birds are active. Midday is quiet.