Ludham and Potter Heigham Marshes

The marshes around Ludham and Potter Heigham stretch out flat and endless, broken only by dykes, reedy banks, and the occasional windmill catching the light. This is proper Norfolk Broads territory - you won't find dramatic vistas or manicured viewpoints, but what you get instead is something altogether more meditative: space, silence, and birds. Lots of them.

It's a walker's landscape more than anything else. The footpaths wind between the water channels, and depending on which route you take, you can spend anything from an hour to a full morning out here. Spring and early autumn are best - summer brings the biting insects, winter can be muddy underfoot. Binoculars matter. You'll spot marsh harriers, bitterns if you're lucky, and vast congregations of lapwings and curlews depending on the season.

Neither Ludham nor Potter Heigham itself is particularly picturesque in the conventional sense. Potter Heigham has a bridge that stops small boats, and some decent riverside pubs where locals know what they're talking about. It's a working landscape, not a postcard one, which is exactly why it's worth your time. There's no admission fee - just park near the villages and walk. Families with young children might find it a bit bleak and featureless; older kids who enjoy nature spotting will get far more from it.

If you're staying at Waxham Sands or Golden Beach, this is practically on your doorstep and beats another afternoon at the arcade. Come for the light and the birdlife rather than expecting theme-park thrills.