Park

Norfolk's coastline east of Great Yarmouth holds some proper wild corners, and this nature reserve is where you feel properly removed from the holiday park sprawl just down the road. The habitat here - marshland, reed beds, and scrubby grassland - attracts serious birdwatchers and photographers who know what they're after. Winter brings visiting species you won't see anywhere else; spring and summer reward patient observers with breeding birds and the constant rustle of wildlife in the undergrowth.

It's not a destination for the quick twenty-minute visit. Walkers and nature enthusiasts will easily spend two to three hours picking their way along paths, binoculars in hand or camera ready. Families with young children might find it a bit heavy going - there's no obvious visitor infrastructure, and the appeal is entirely in what you spot rather than what you do. If your kids are keen on identifying birds or insects, brilliant. If they're after ice cream and a playground, head to California Cliffs or Haven Caister-on-Sea instead.

The reserve sits sandwiched between several holiday parks - Richardson's Hemsby Beach and Breckland Meadows are practically neighbours. That proximity is actually handy if you're based at one of the nearby caravan sites and want a break from the facilities but don't fancy driving far. Norfolk Broads Country Park, five miles away, offers a different wetland experience with more visitor amenities if you need them.

Access details are thin on the ground, but it's free and worth calling ahead or checking locally in Great Yarmouth. Wear decent boots - the ground gets boggy.