Milton Park

The wetland walk at Milton Park catches you off guard. You're expecting a straightforward nature reserve somewhere inland from Hayling Island, but what you get is proper birdwatching territory - marshes and shallow pools that genuinely teem with life if you time it right. Bring binoculars and patience in equal measure.

It's a modest reserve, nothing that'll occupy a full day, but that's rather the point. An hour or ninety minutes works well for families with younger kids, while serious ornithologists could spend half the morning here tracking warblers and waterfowl. The paths are manageable, though waterproofs are sensible given the terrain. Best visited outside peak summer months when the birds are actually around and the midges haven't taken over completely.

Stay at Fishery Creek Touring Park nearby - it's the standout locally with top ratings - and you've got a pleasant morning outing that pairs well with a beach afternoon on Hayling Island itself, just three or four miles away. Mill Rythe Coastal Village and Hayling Island Holiday Park offer decent bases too if you're after something less ambitious. Milton Park won't be the highlight of your trip, but it's exactly the sort of quiet, understated spot that makes caravan holidays actually restful rather than exhausting. No grand expectations needed here. Just bring binoculars and let the place reveal itself.