Little Downham Local Nature Reserve

You'll find Little Downham tucked away east of Ely, a proper slice of Cambridgeshire wetland that doesn't get nearly enough footfall. It's a local nature reserve where the Fens still feel wild - reedy margins, open water, the kind of place where you actually spot things rather than just walk through looking at a map.

The reserve itself is modest in size but rewarding if you've got binoculars and patience. Birdwatchers make the pilgrimage here regularly. Terns, warblers, the occasional rarer visitor depending on season - it's genuine working habitat, not a manicured park. You can walk the perimeter easily enough, though muddy patches are guaranteed after rain. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're taking photographs or settling in to watch the water.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit quiet - there's no café, no playground, just the birds and the reeds. Walkers and nature enthusiasts, though, will find it worth the detour from Ely. It's free to access and never rammed, which counts for something.

Geographically, it works well paired with a stay at either Heatherbield Lodge or Hatters Meadows. Both caravan sites are close enough that you could easily make this a morning stop before heading elsewhere. Spring and autumn are best for migrants, but summer has its own appeal if you like the emptiness of it all.