Richardson Dees Park

You'll find Richardson Dees Park tucked between Whitley Bay and the North Tyne estuary - a proper slice of coastal nature reserve that rarely gets rammed with visitors. The walk itself meanders through dunes and grassland where you can spot waders and the odd heron if you're quiet about it. There's also a decent stretch of beach access if the mood takes you.

It's best suited to walkers and anyone serious about bird spotting rather than families after an afternoon's entertainment. You won't find facilities or a visitor centre - this is the real thing, not a polished attraction. Allow a good hour to two hours depending on how thoroughly you explore the pathways. Go early morning or late afternoon for the best wildlife activity and to dodge any weather coming in off the sea.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay Holiday Park just down the coast, it's an easy walk to incorporate into your week without needing the car. The reserve sits nicely alongside a broader coastal walk if you're that way inclined - plenty of folk use it as a waypoint rather than a destination in itself. Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is a bit further out but still within striking distance for a morning visit. The mudflats and salt marsh support a genuine ecosystem, which makes it worth the trip if you're genuinely interested in what's happening beneath your feet rather than just ticking off another spot.