Pyes Mill Picnic Area

The car park at Pyes Mill sits tucked beside the River Waveney, just outside Bungay, and it's one of those spots where you can actually eat a sandwich without feeling rushed. There's a proper picnic area here - benches, bins, the essentials - and the river itself is genuinely pleasant to look at while you're unwrapping your lunch. The walk down from the car park is short and flat, which means families with small children won't spend half the day getting there.

What makes it work is the location rather than any grand attractions. You've got water, greenery, and enough space to stretch out without tripping over other people's Tupperware. It's the sort of place where you'll see locals actually using it - not just tourists passing through. If you're camping at Wardley Hill or The Wildings Elms Meadow nearby, this is a five-minute drive for a proper meal break without having to trek to town.

Couples and families with younger kids will get the most out of it. Anyone after dramatic scenery should look elsewhere, but if you want a calm riverside spot to stop during a Norfolk holiday, it does the job. The river can be interesting if you're into spotting birds or just watching the water, and there's enough shade from the trees. Frankly, it's free, it's accessible, and it beats eating crisps in the car. Allow twenty minutes unless you're one of those people who lingers over a thermos flask.