Higham Bight

Higham Bight sits along the Thames estuary east of Tilbury, a proper working bit of Essex coastline that most people drive past without a second glance. It's a nature reserve, yes, but don't expect manicured paths and visitor centres - this is genuinely wild marshland where the Thames widens out towards the sea.

You come here for birdwatching, mostly. Waders, wildfowl, the occasional rarer migrant if you're lucky and know what you're looking at. The walks are straightforward enough, though the ground can be squelchy depending on the season. Spring and autumn are best for variety, though winter brings its own appeal if you don't mind the wind coming straight off the water.

It's worth a morning if you're camped at Thamesview nearby - the two work well together. You won't find facilities out here, so pack what you need before you arrive. The landscape is flat and open, which means there's nowhere to hide from the weather, so come prepared. Kids who are into nature will get something out of it; those expecting adventure playground thrills will be disappointed inside twenty minutes.

The real charm is in how unpolished it is. No interpretation boards telling you what you're seeing, no gift shop. Just you, the birds, and the estuary doing its thing. That's either exactly what you want or it absolutely isn't.