Portholme

The River Great Ouse loops around Portholme like it can't quite make up its mind where to go next. This sprawling nature reserve east of Huntingdon is England's largest inland hay meadow, and that fact alone tells you what to expect: wide open grassland where wildflowers run riot come spring and summer. The meadow floods in winter, turning the whole place into something resembling a shallow inland sea, which brings the wildfowl in droves.

It's a walker's reserve rather than a sit-and-stare sort of spot. You meander along the river paths, spotting redshank and lapwing in breeding season, watching for otters if you're lucky and patient. The paths are flat and easy - no scrambling - which makes it accessible for families with younger legs, though you'll need to manage expectations. Kids will get bored after an hour unless they're genuinely into bird spotting or collecting wildflower names.

The reserve is free to access, and there's no real barrier to entry or visitors' centre announcing itself. Just turn up and walk. Spring's the sweet spot if you want to see the flowers and hear the birds in full voice. Winter floods add drama but make the going squelchy.

If you're camping at Grafham Water Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite five miles away, Portholme makes a decent morning outing to break up the holiday routine. It's not going to dominate your itinerary, but on a clear day with the light hitting the meadow properly, it's quietly rather lovely.