Gamlingay Cinques

The Gamlingay Cinques are a set of five ponds that sit just outside Sandy in Cambridgeshire, and they're one of those places that rewards a quiet wander rather than demanding a full morning. They're former chalk pits - old extraction sites that filled with water over time - and now they form a rather peaceful stretch of water fringed with trees and reeds. The walking here is gentle, mostly flat tracks around and between the ponds, taking you past some proper good birdwatching spots. Bring binoculars if you're serious about spotting anything beyond the usual ducks and geese.

They work best for walkers and anyone with a camera or a genuine interest in wetland wildlife. You won't find facilities, cafes, or interpretation boards, so go in knowing you're getting a quiet nature spot rather than a formal attraction. Kids might manage half an hour if they're into pond-dipping or spotting wildlife, but beyond that you'll likely get restless faces. It's free to access and you can do it in a leisurely hour or less depending on how thorough you want to be.

If you're based at Cambridgeshire Lakes - which is practically on the doorstep at under half a mile away - this makes an ideal morning outing before heading back for lunch. It's the kind of place that works as a break from holiday park life rather than a destination in itself, but that doesn't make it any less worth doing. Proper peaceful spot, and you'll likely have it mostly to yourself.