NWT Upton Fen

A flat expanse of reed beds and shallow water that demands patience but rewards it. Upton Fen is a National Wildlife Trust reserve just outside Great Yarmouth, and it's one of those places where you either get it or you don't. If you're the sort who finds a marsh thrush at dawn genuinely thrilling, you'll love this. If you expect drama, move on.

The boardwalk lets you step right into the habitat without sinking into the mud, which is the whole point. Binoculars are essential - proper binoculars, not the ones from the service station. You're here for birds and rare plants, the unglamorous vertebrates of Norfolk's wetland ecosystem. Marsh harriers quarter the reedbeds. In winter, you might spot bitterns. Spring is cacophony - every reed seems to have an opinion about territory.

It's free to visit and costs nothing to park. Allow two hours minimum if you're serious, though hardcore birdwatchers have been known to camp here for entire mornings. Best visited early, before the wind picks up and before the inevitable riverside crowds from Great Yarmouth.

For a park-based holiday, this slots well alongside Norfolk Broads Haven - that's your proper basecamp, five or so miles south - though you'll want to combine it with the Broads themselves rather than expecting Upton Fen alone to carry a full day. It's a specialist destination, not a family ride-out. But if you're into wetland ecology, or you simply need quiet, it's worth the short drive.