Portholme Meadow

The River Ouse floods Portholme Meadow most winters, and that's rather the point. This 160-acre nature reserve east of Huntingdon is one of England's finest traditional flood meadows - the kind of place that only exists because farmers have shaped the landscape for centuries, letting water do what water wants to do.

You get proper riverside walking here, with the Ouse running alongside and old willows framing the banks. The meadow itself is wide open, so you can see what's about - waders in the shallows, woodland edge in the distance. Spring's the best time if you want wildflowers and nesting birds; winter floods make it a different proposition altogether. There's a footpath that runs the length of it, dead easy going underfoot.

Walkers and bird spotters will get the most from this. It's not a zoo, so bring binoculars if you're serious about birds. Families with younger kids might find it a touch exposed and open - there's not much to do besides walk and watch. Allow an hour, perhaps ninety minutes if you're thorough.

It's free and open access, which is brilliant. If you're based at Huntingdon Boathaven or Wyton Lakes Holiday Park just nearby, this is a morning's exploration sorted. The meadow works well alongside the bigger Grafham Water to the west - you could easily make a day of the wetlands round here. Just don't expect interpretation boards or facilities. This is proper countryside, not a visitor centre.