Red Lodge Heath

The heath stretches out in a proper patchwork of heather, gorse and open grassland just east of Bury Saint Edmunds. It's the sort of place that changes entirely with the seasons - come in late summer and the purple heather blooms are almost aggressive in their colour; visit in winter and it's all bare branches and that particular emptiness that East Anglian landscapes do so well.

You're looking at around 40 hectares of lowland heath, which in Suffolk terms is actually quite substantial. Walking trails crisscross through it, ranging from short loops if you're only got half an hour to longer rambles that'll take the better part of an afternoon. The ground can be boggy in places - wellies aren't overkill, especially after rain.

Walkers absolutely get the most from this. Birdwatchers too; the open habitat pulls in nightjars and woodlarks, particularly during breeding season. Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after a while - there's no visitor centre, no tearoom, just the landscape itself. That's either its charm or its limitation depending on your mood.

It's free to access and open year-round, though spring and late summer are genuinely the best times. If you're based at Church View Campsite nearby, this is an easy morning out before heading into Bury Saint Edmunds for lunch. It's not dramatically scenic, but it's authentic Suffolk heathland - unglamorous, honest, and properly peaceful.