Muirpark Park

A proper working wetland just outside Prestonpans, Muirpark Park is the sort of place you'd walk past without realising what you're missing. The reserve sprawls across reclaimed industrial land - old coal mining country - that's been left to rewild into something genuinely compelling. Shallow pools, reed beds, and rough grassland attract everything from lapwings to water voles if you're patient enough to spot them.

It's best in spring and early summer when the birds are most active. Grab binoculars and allow a couple of hours for a proper explore. The trails are straightforward, nothing taxing, so families with younger kids won't struggle though you'll need to manage expectations - this isn't a manicured attraction with information boards at every turn. Birdwatchers will absolutely love it. Casual walkers get a decent circuit with some quiet corners. Photographers find decent light and wildlife subjects without the crowds you'd get at more famous reserves.

If you're staying at Haven Seton Sands just down the road, this makes a brilliant morning or afternoon break - close enough not to eat into holiday time, far enough to feel like a proper excursion. The industrial heritage angle is interesting too if you're into that sort of thing: watching nature reclaim what humans extracted adds a certain weight to a walk. Worth the visit, not worth rearranging your plans around, but absolutely worth an hour if you're in East Lothian.