Harmondsworth Moor

The moor spreads out flat and open, with rough grassland that shifts from gold to green depending on the season. You're looking at proper wetland habitat here - this isn't a manicured nature reserve with visitor centres and guided walks, it's the real thing. Birdwatchers make the pilgrimage from Staines and beyond because the place attracts everything from common reeds to the occasional scarcer visitor. Summer brings dragonflies thick as you've ever seen them, and in winter the wet patches freeze into little ponds that draw wildfowl.

Walking the moor takes anything from forty minutes to a couple of hours depending on how you pace yourself and whether you stop to actually look at things. It's bog-standard British wetland - no dramatic views, no café, just you and the marshland. Families with young kids will get restless unless they're genuinely into bugs and birds. Walkers and nature photographers find it genuinely worthwhile, though you'll need proper footwear because it gets muddy. The nearest facilities are back in Staines, so come prepared.

If you're based at Penton Park over in Chertsey, it's an easy enough drive - under ten minutes - and works well as a morning outing to break up a park holiday. The moor's free to access and open year-round, though spring and early summer give you the best mix of birdlife and wildflowers. Don't expect drama. Expect solitude and the subtle stuff that actually makes wetlands tick.