NWT Holme Dunes nature reserve

You've got proper coastal dunes here - the sort of place where the North Sea wind gets properly in your face and you remember why you live inland. Holme Dunes is an NWT reserve just outside Hunstanton, a sweep of sand and shingle backed by marram grass and the occasional stunted pine that's managed to cling on. It's ideal for anyone who actually wants to walk somewhere instead of just standing at a viewpoint for five minutes.

The reserve sprawls across a decent stretch of Norfolk coast, so you can wander for hours if the mood takes you. Birdwatchers will find it properly rewarding - grey seals turn up regularly along the shore, and in migration season the dunes attract all sorts you won't spot in your garden. Families can make it work if the kids are the type who'll chase around exploring pools and looking for crabs rather than wanting an ice cream and a gift shop.

Walking's the main thing here. No facilities to speak of, so bring what you need. The light changes dramatically depending on weather and tide, which sounds romantic until you're trudging back in horizontal rain, so check conditions before you head out. Winter storms sculpt the dunes differently each year - it's never quite the same visit twice.

It sits nicely if you're based at one of the local holiday parks - Wild Luxury's just down the road, or Searles Leisure if you prefer something more conventional. The walk from Hunstanton takes about twenty minutes, which beats queuing for parking.