Friendship Park

Walk into Friendship Park and you're immediately struck by how quiet it is - a proper working nature reserve rather than a manicured attraction. The reserve sits just outside Market Harborough and gives you uninterrupted views across wetland and grassland that genuinely feel removed from the East Midlands sprawl.

What you're doing here is birdwatching, mainly. Bring binoculars and a field guide, because the park's appeal hinges entirely on whether you care about spotting warblers, lapwings, and winter wildfowl. There are walking trails that wind through the different habitats, and the light in late afternoon across the water is worth the trip alone - photographers will find their day well spent.

It's not somewhere to drag reluctant teenagers. Kids interested in nature will engage; everyone else will get restless after 45 minutes. You're looking at two to three hours if you're serious about the birdwatching, less if you're just after a pleasant wander.

Families staying at Dome From Home, just over five miles away, could easily tack this on to a park holiday without adding much to the drive. The real draw is solitude - you won't fight crowds here. Bring a packed lunch and settle in. It's the kind of place that proves you don't need thrill rides or visitor centres to make a day worthwhile.