Freshfield Dune Heath Nature Reserve

The dunes at Freshfield feel properly wild for somewhere so close to Southport. You're walking through a landscape that's been shaped by wind and sea for centuries, with marram grass whipping about and the occasional glimpse of the shore beyond. The reserve itself is low-key - no visitor centre, no facilities to speak of - which means it stays refreshingly undeveloped.

What draws people here is the chance to see the natural Lancashire coast as it actually is, not manicured or managed into submission. The heath and dune system supports rare plants and nesting birds, so spring and early summer are best if you're hoping to spot wildlife. The walks aren't strenuous - you can potter about for an hour or spend half a day exploring the different paths - though the sandy terrain can be heavy going if you've got young children.

Historically minded types will appreciate that this reserve is one of the few remaining examples of the coastal dunes that once characterised this stretch of the North West. It's proper instructive if you want to understand what the landscape was before development swallowed most of it.

If you're based at Southport Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite - just five miles away - this makes an easy morning or afternoon outing. It works best combined with a beach walk or a stroll into Southport itself rather than as a destination in its own right. Honest assessment: it's more about what it represents than spectacular vistas, but that's precisely why it's worth the visit.